It has recently been proposed that defective differentiation of mammary luminal progenitors predisposes to basal-like breast cancer. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are still unclear. Here, we describe that the adaptor protein p130Cas is a crucial regulator of mouse mammary epithelial cell (MMEC) differentiation. By using a transgenic mouse model, we show that forced p130Cas over-expression in the luminal progenitor cell compartment results in the expansion of luminal cells, which aberrantly display basal cell features and reduced differentiation in response to lactogenic stimuli. Interestingly, MMECs over-expressing p130Cas exhibit hyperactivation of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit. In addition, we demonstrate that the constitutive c-Kit activation alone mimics p130Cas over-expression whereas c-Kit downregulation is sufficient to re-establish proper differentiation of p130Cas over-expressing cells. Overall, our data indicate that high levels of p130Cas, via abnormal c-Kit activation, promote mammary luminal cell plasticity, thus providing the conditions for the development of basal-like breast cancer. Consistently, p130Cas is over-expressed in human triple negative breast cancer, further suggesting that p130Cas upregulation may be a priming event for the onset of basal-like breast cancer.

p130Cas Alters the Differentiation Potential of Mammary Luminal Progenitors by Deregulating C-Kit Activity.

TORNILLO, GIUSY;CASTELLANO, ISABELLA;SPADARO, Michela;BISARO, Brigitte;PINCINI, ALESSANDRA;PROVERO, Paolo;SAPINO, Anna;TURCO, Emilia;DEFILIPPI, Paola;CABODI, Sara
2013-01-01

Abstract

It has recently been proposed that defective differentiation of mammary luminal progenitors predisposes to basal-like breast cancer. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are still unclear. Here, we describe that the adaptor protein p130Cas is a crucial regulator of mouse mammary epithelial cell (MMEC) differentiation. By using a transgenic mouse model, we show that forced p130Cas over-expression in the luminal progenitor cell compartment results in the expansion of luminal cells, which aberrantly display basal cell features and reduced differentiation in response to lactogenic stimuli. Interestingly, MMECs over-expressing p130Cas exhibit hyperactivation of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit. In addition, we demonstrate that the constitutive c-Kit activation alone mimics p130Cas over-expression whereas c-Kit downregulation is sufficient to re-establish proper differentiation of p130Cas over-expressing cells. Overall, our data indicate that high levels of p130Cas, via abnormal c-Kit activation, promote mammary luminal cell plasticity, thus providing the conditions for the development of basal-like breast cancer. Consistently, p130Cas is over-expressed in human triple negative breast cancer, further suggesting that p130Cas upregulation may be a priming event for the onset of basal-like breast cancer.
2013
31
7
1422
1433
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/stem.1403/pdf
http://www.StemCells.com,
p130Cas; c-Kit; mammary luminal progenitor; differentiation; basal-like breast cancer
Tornillo G; Elia AR; Castellano I; Spadaro M; Bernabei P; Bisaro B; Del Pilar Camacho-Leal M; Pincini A; Provero P; Sapino A; Turco E; Defilippi P; Cabodi S.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Tornillo et al.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: MATERIALE NON BIBLIOGRAFICO
Dimensione 1.64 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.64 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/131206
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 8
  • Scopus 13
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 12
social impact