Overexpression of a dominant-negative ornithine decarboxylase in mouse skin: effect on enzyme activity and papilloma formation

Carcinogenesis. 2002 Apr;23(4):657-64. doi: 10.1093/carcin/23.4.657.

Abstract

A transgenic mouse line expressing a truncated form of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) dominant-negative mutant K69A/C360A under the control of the keratin 6 promoter has been established (K6/ODCdn mice). These mice were backcrossed onto both the DBA/2J and C57BL/6J backgrounds for subsequent tumorigenesis experiments utilizing an initiation/promotion protocol. In short-term experiments, expression of the ODCdn protein product was induced in the epidermis within 24 h after application of the tumor promoter tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) to the skin, and ODC activity in the epidermis of K6/ODCdn mice was reduced by at least 75% compared with littermate controls. However, in tumorigenesis experiments utilizing a variety of initiator (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; DMBA) and promoter (TPA) concentrations, K6/ODCdn mice formed at least as many tumors as their littermate controls regardless of background strain. In experiments utilizing chrysarobin, a tumor promoter with a different mechanism of action than TPA, again there was no significant difference in tumor formation between K6/ODCdn mice and littermate controls. Similarly, when K6/ODCdn mice were crossed with K5/ODC mice, a transgenic line described previously which forms tumors without application of a promoting agent, double transgenic mice formed as many tumors as mice expressing the K5/ODC transgene alone. Analysis of epidermis following multiple TPA applications revealed a dramatic spike in ODC activity in both K6/ODCdn mice and non-transgenic mice after six applications, and western blot analysis suggested a stabilization of endogenous wild-type ODC in K6/ODCdn transgenic mice. ODC activity, endogenous protein and polyamines were also elevated in tumors from K6/ODCdn mice. The accumulation of endogenous ODC protein is most probably the result of competition from the transgene-derived ODCdn protein for binding of antizyme, which is known to regulate ODC activity by stimulating degradation of the ODC protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthracenes / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinogens
  • Genes, Dominant*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Ornithine Decarboxylase / biosynthesis*
  • Ornithine Decarboxylase / genetics*
  • Papilloma / enzymology*
  • Papilloma / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Skin / enzymology*
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Carcinogens
  • chrysarobin
  • Ornithine Decarboxylase
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate