How to translate text using browser tools
5 June 2013 Loss of Cdh1 and Pten Accelerates Cellular Invasiveness and Angiogenesis in the Mouse Uterus
Mallory E. Lindberg, Genna R. Stodden, Mandy L. King, James A. MacLean, Jordan L. Mann, Francesco J. DeMayo, John P. Lydon, Kanako Hayashi
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

E-cadherin (CDH1) is a cell adhesion molecule that coordinates key morphogenetic processes regulating cell growth, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Loss of CDH1 is a trademark of the cellular event epithelial to mesenchymal transition, which increases the metastatic potential of malignant cells. PTEN is a tumor-suppressor gene commonly mutated in many human cancers, including endometrial cancer. In the mouse uterus, ablation of Pten induces epithelial hyperplasia, leading to endometrial carcinomas. However, loss of Pten alone does not affect longevity until around 5 mo. Similarly, conditional ablation of Cdh1 alone does not predispose mice to cancer. In this study, we characterized the impact of dual Cdh1 and Pten ablation (Cdh1d/d Ptend/d) in the mouse uterus. We observed that Cdh1d/d Ptend/d mice died at Postnatal Days 15–19 with massive blood loss. Their uteri were abnormally structured with curly horns, disorganized epithelial structure, and increased cell proliferation. Co-immunostaining of KRT8 and ACTA2 showed invasion of epithelial cells into the myometrium. Further, the uteri of Cdh1d/d Ptend/d mice had prevalent vascularization in both the endometrium and myometrium. We also observed reduced expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, loss of cell adherens, and tight junction molecules (CTNNB1 and claudin), as well as activation of AKT in the uteri of Cdh1d/d Ptend/d mice. However, complex hyperplasia was not found in the uteri of Cdh1d/d Ptend/d mice. Collectively, these findings suggest that ablation of Pten with Cdh1 in the uterus accelerates cellular invasiveness and angiogenesis and causes early death.

Mallory E. Lindberg, Genna R. Stodden, Mandy L. King, James A. MacLean, Jordan L. Mann, Francesco J. DeMayo, John P. Lydon, and Kanako Hayashi "Loss of Cdh1 and Pten Accelerates Cellular Invasiveness and Angiogenesis in the Mouse Uterus," Biology of Reproduction 89(1), (5 June 2013). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.109462
Received: 30 March 2013; Accepted: 1 May 2013; Published: 5 June 2013
KEYWORDS
angiogenesis and dissemination
CDH1
invasion
PTEN
uterus
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top