Defects in transforming growth factor-β signaling cooperate with a Ras oncogene to cause rapid aneuploidy and malignant transformation of mouse keratinocytes

Adam Glick, Nicholas Popescu, Valarie Alexander, Hikaru Ueno, Erwin Bottinger, Stuart H. Yuspa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genetic inactivation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway can accelerate tumor progression in the mouse epidermal model of multistage carcinogenesis. By using an in vitro model of keratinocyte transformation that parallels in vivo malignant conversion to squamous cell carcinoma, we show that v-ras(Ha) transduced primary TGF-β1-/- keratinocytes and keratinocytes expressing a TGF-β type II dominant-negative receptor transgene have significantly higher frequencies of spontaneous transformation than control genotypes. Malignant transformation in the TGF- β1 -/- keratinocytes is preceded by aneuploidy and accumulation of chromosomal aberrations. Similarly, transient inactivation of TGF-β signaling with a type II dominant-negative receptor adenovirus causes rapid changes in ploidy. Exogenous TGF-β1 can suppress aneuploidy, chromosome breaks, and malignant transformation of the TGF-β1-/- keratinocytes at concentrations that do not significantly arrest cell proliferation. These results point to genomic instability as a mechanism by which defects in TGF- β signaling could accelerate tumor progression in mouse multistage carcinogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14949-14954
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume96
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Dec 1999
Externally publishedYes

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