Pioglitazone induces a proadipogenic antitumor response in mice with PAX8-PPARgamma fusion protein thyroid carcinoma.
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ABSTRACT: Approximately 35% of follicular thyroid carcinomas harbor a chromosomal translocation that results in expression of a paired box gene 8-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ? gene (PPAR?) fusion protein (PPFP). To better understand the oncogenic role of PPFP and its relationship to endogenous PPAR?, we generated a transgenic mouse model that combines Cre-dependent PPFP expression (PPFP;Cre) with homozygous deletion of floxed Pten (PtenFF;Cre), both thyroid specific. Although neither PPFP;Cre nor PtenFF;Cre mice develop thyroid tumors, the combined PPFP;PtenFF;Cre mice develop metastatic thyroid cancer, consistent with patient data that PPFP is occasionally found in benign thyroid adenomas and that PPFP carcinomas have increased phosphorylated AKT/protein kinase B. We then tested the effects of the PPAR? agonist pioglitazone in our mouse model. Pioglitazone had no effect on PtenFF;Cre mouse thyroids. However, the thyroids in pioglitazone-fed PPFP;PtenFF;Cre mice decreased 7-fold in size, and metastatic disease was prevented. Remarkably, pioglitazone caused an adipogenic response in the PPFP;PtenFF;Cre thyroids characterized by lipid accumulation and the induction of a broad array of adipocyte PPAR? target genes. These data indicate that, in the presence of pioglitazone, PPFP has PPAR?-like activity that results in trans-differentiation of thyroid carcinoma cells into adipocyte-like cells. Furthermore, the data predict that pioglitazone will be therapeutic in patients with PPFP-positive carcinomas.
SUBMITTER: Dobson ME
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3199014 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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