Oncogenesis of the lens in transgenic mice.
Neoplastic tumors of the ocular lens of vertebrates do not naturally occur. Transgenic mice carrying a hybrid gene comprising the murine alpha A-crystallin promoter (-366 to +46) fused to the coding sequence of the SV40 T antigens developed lens tumors, which obliterated the eye cavity and even invaded neighboring tissue, thus establishing that the lens is not refractive to oncogenesis. Large-T antigen was detected early in lens development; it elicited morphological changes and specifically interfered with differentiation of lens fiber cells. Both alpha- and beta-crystallins persisted in many of the lens tumor cells, while gamma-crystallin was selectively reduced. Accessibility, characteristic morphology, and defined protein markers make this transparent epithelial eye tissue a potentially useful system for testing tumorigenicity of oncogenes and for studying malignant transformation from its inception until death of the animal.
D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002678:Chimera; D003459:Crystallins / Q000032:analysis; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007905:Lens Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics*; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D013539:Simian virus 40; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D003459:Crystallins; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral