Dataset Information

Spontaneous induction of murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPanIN) by acinar cell targeting of oncogenic Kras in adult mice.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is believed to arise through a multistep model comprised of putative precursor lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Recent genetically engineered mouse models of PDAC demonstrate a comparable morphologic spectrum of murine PanIN (mPanIN) lesions. The histogenesis of PanIN and PDAC in both mice and men remains controversial. The most faithful genetic models activate an oncogenic Kras(G12D) knockin allele within the pdx1- or ptf1a/p48-expression domain of the entire pancreatic anlage during development, thus obscuring the putative cell(s)-of-origin from which subsequent mPanIN lesions arise. In our study, activation of this knockin Kras(G12D) allele in the Elastase- and Mist1-expressing mature acinar compartment of adult mice resulted in the spontaneous induction of mPanIN lesions of all histological grades, although invasive carcinomas per se were not seen. We observed no requirement for concomitant chronic exocrine injury in the induction of mPanIN lesions from the mature acinar cell compartment. The acinar cell derivation of the mPanINs was established through lineage tracing in reporter mice, and by microdissection of lesional tissue demonstrating Cre-mediated recombination events. In contrast to the uniformly penetrant mPanIN phenotype observed following developmental activation of Kras(G12D) in the Pdx1-expressing progenitor cells, the Pdx1-expressing population in the mature pancreas (predominantly islet beta cells) appears to be relatively resistant to the effects of oncogenic Kras. We conclude that in the appropriate genetic context, the differentiated acinar cell compartment in adult mice retains its susceptibility for spontaneous transformation into mPanIN lesions, a finding with potential relevance vis-à-vis the origins of PDAC.

SUBMITTER: Habbe N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2596215 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Spontaneous induction of murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPanIN) by acinar cell targeting of oncogenic Kras in adult mice.

Habbe Nils N Shi Guanglu G Meguid Robert A RA Fendrich Volker V Esni Farzad F Chen Huiping H Feldmann Georg G Stoffers Doris A DA Konieczny Stephen F SF Leach Steven D SD Maitra Anirban A

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20081121 48

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is believed to arise through a multistep model comprised of putative precursor lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Recent genetically engineered mouse models of PDAC demonstrate a comparable morphologic spectrum of murine PanIN (mPanIN) lesions. The histogenesis of PanIN and PDAC in both mice and men remains controversial. The most faithful genetic models activate an oncogenic Kras(G12D) knockin allele within the pdx1- or ptf1a/p ...[more]

PMID: 19028870

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background and aimsDevelopment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a multistep process intensively studied; however, precocious diagnosis and effective therapy still remain unsatisfactory. The role for Notch signaling in PDAC has been discussed controversially, as both cancer-promoting and cancer-antagonizing functions have been described. Thus, an improved understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is necessary. Here, we focused on RBPJ, the receiving transcription factor in the Notch pathway, examined its expression pattern in PDAC, and characterized its function in mouse models of pancreatic cancer development and in the regeneration process after acute pancreatitis.MethodsConditional transgenic mouse models were used for functional analysis of RBPJ in the adult pancreas, initiation of PDAC precursor lesions, and pancreatic regeneration. Pancreata and primary acinar cells were tested for acinar-to-ductal metaplasia together with immunohistology and comprehensive transcriptional profiling by RNA sequencing.ResultsWe identified reduced RBPJ expression in a subset of human PDAC specimens. Ptf1α-CreERT-driven depletion of RBPJ in transgenic mice revealed that its function is dispensable for the homeostasis and maintenance of adult acinar cells. However, primary RBPJ-deficient acinar cells underwent acinar-to-ductal differentiation in ex vivo. Importantly, oncogenic KRAS expression in the context of RBPJ deficiency facilitated the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions with massive fibrotic stroma formation. Interestingly, RNA-sequencing data revealed a transcriptional profile associated with the cytokine/chemokine and extracellular matrix changes. In addition, lack of RBPJ delays the course of acute pancreatitis and critically impairs it in the context of KRASG12D expression.ConclusionsOur findings imply that downregulation of RBPJ in PDAC patients derepresses Notch targets and promotes KRAS-mediated pancreatic acinar cells transformation and desmoplasia development.

Dataset Information

Spontaneous induction of murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPanIN) by acinar cell targeting of oncogenic Kras in adult mice.

Publications

Spontaneous induction of murine pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPanIN) by acinar cell targeting of oncogenic Kras in adult mice.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets