Perturbation of beta1-integrin function in involuting mammary gland results in premature dedifferentiation of secretory epithelial cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2002 Oct;13(10):3521-31. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e02-02-0086.

Abstract

To study the mechanism of beta1-integrin function in vivo, we have generated transgenic mouse expressing a dominant negative mutant of beta1-integrin under the control of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter (MMTV-beta1-cyto). Mammary glands from MMTV-beta1-cyto transgenic females present significant growth defects during pregnancy and lactation and impaired differentiation of secretory epithelial cells at the onset of lactation. We report herein that perturbation of beta1-integrin function in involuting mammary gland induced precocious dedifferentiation of the secretory epithelium, as shown by the premature decrease in beta-casein and whey acidic protein mRNA levels, accompanied by inactivation of STAT5, a transcription factor essential for mammary gland development and up-regulation of nuclear factor-kappaB, a negative regulator of STAT5 signaling. This is the first study demonstrating in vivo that cell-extracellular matrix interactions involving beta1-integrins play an important role in the control of milk gene transcription and in the maintenance of the mammary epithelial cell differentiated state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology*
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Integrin beta1 / genetics
  • Integrin beta1 / metabolism*
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Lactation / physiology*
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / cytology
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / physiology*
  • Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Milk Proteins / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Integrin beta1
  • Milk Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Trans-Activators
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 2