Project description:The transcription factor Zinc finger protein 148 (Zfp148) interacts physically with the tumor suppressor p53, but the siginficance of this interaction is not known. We recently showed that knockout of Zfp148 in mice leads to ectopic activation of p53 in tissues and cultured fibroblasts, suggesting that Zfp148 represses p53 activity. Here we hypothesized that targeting Zfp148 would unleash p53 activity and protect against cancer development, and test this idea in the APCMin/+ mouse model of intestinal adenomas. Crypt-enriched tissues were isolated by laser microdissection (PALM) from the small intestines (proximal) of Zfp148gt/+APCMin/+ and Zfp148+/+APCMin/+ mice for RNA extraction and hybridization to Affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:Tumor surveillance is essential to stop tumor progenitors in their tracks. Clearly, endogenous protective mechanisms other than immune surveillance are important, but their molecular nature and mechanisms of action remain unclear. In the newborn intestine, the immature cells need to be surveilled to promote differentiation and tumor development prevented. This study addressed if molecules in milk may be relevant for tumor surveillance. Alpha-lactalbumin, which is the most abundant protein in human milk and crucial for the survival of mammals, due to its role in lactose synthesis, also forms tumoricidal oleic-acid complexes with documented therapeutic efficacy. This study identifies BAMLET, a complex formed by bovine alpha-lactalbumin and oleic acid, as a tumor surveillance molecule. BAMLET substitution of the drinking water protected tumor-prone ApcMin/+ mice from developing intestinal cancer and prolonged their survival, with pronounced inhibition of genes regulating the tumor environment, metastasis, Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cancer related gene networks. Unexpected extra-intestinal effects on lungs, livers, kidneys and spleens further suggested a protective effect of BAMLET beyond the intestine. These effects were specific for the cancer-prone ApcMin/+ mice. Healthy C57BL/6 mice were largely unaffected by peroral BAMLET administration, except for improved metabolic functions such as lipid and glucose metabolism and insulin resistance and there was no evidence of toxicity. The results suggest that molecules, which have evolved to support tissue differentiation, may identify and remove tumor progenitors. The findings support the potential of BAMLET as a tumor surveillance molecule with potential for clinical use in cancer-prone patients.
Project description:Background and aims: The transcription factor Stat3 has been considered to promote progression and metastasis of intestinal cancers. Methods: We investigated the role of Stat3 in intestinal tumors using mice with conditional ablation of Stat3 in intestinal epithelial cells (Stat3deltaIEC). Results: In the APCmin mouse model of intestinal cancer, genetic ablation of Stat3 reduced the multiplicity of early adenomas. However, loss of Stat3 promoted tumor progression at later stages leading to formation of invasive carcinomas which significantly shortened the lifespan of Stat3deltaIEC APCmin/+ mice. Interestingly, loss of Stat3 in tumors of APCmin/+ mice had no significant impact on cell survival and angiogenesis but promoted cell proliferation. A genome-wide expression analysis of Stat3-deficient tumors suggested that Stat3 negatively regulates intestinal cancer progression via the cell adhesion molecule Ceacam1. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Stat3 impairs progression of intestinal tumors. Therefore, detrimental effects on tumor progression have to be considered upon therapeutic targeting of the Stat3 signaling pathway in intestinal cancer.
Project description:The interferon-inducible transcription factor STAT1 is a tumor suppressor in various malignancies. We investigated STAT1 functions in intestinal tumorigenesis of ApcMin mice. Surprisingly, loss of STAT1 in intestinal epithelial cells (STAT1ΔIEC) interfered with ApcMin induced intestinal tumor formation and tumor progression. RNASeq data demonstrated reduced expression of Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in STAT1ΔIEC ApcMin tumors. IDO1 is implicated in synthesis of kynurenine, a metabolite that induces ß-Catenin nuclear localisation and suppresses anti-tumor immune responses.
Project description:We performed RNAseq on intestinal polyps from diptheria toxin-treated ApcMin;Lgr5DTR mice to investigate the effect of an acute selective pressure on stem cell populations in intestinal lesions. Lgr5+ cells in the ApcMin;Lgr5DTR mice were ablated with a single intraperitoneal dose of diphtheria toxin in saline (50 μg/kg), and samples were collected after 24 hours and after 5 days. Untreated ApcMin mice were used as control. Intestinal polyps were excised and collected for RNA sequencing.