title: Reduction in transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor in mouse lung carcinogenesis.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a growth modulator that inhibits the proliferation of many epithelial cells through interaction with its receptors, the type I and type II receptors (TGF-beta RI and RII) by activating their serine/threonine kinase activities. Loss of growth inhibition by TGF-beta is thought to contribute to the development of many types of tumors. To examine the roles of TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 and TGF-beta RI and RII in chemically induced mouse lung tumorigenesis, we used immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses to measure the expression of their proteins and mRNAs in A/J mice treated with the carcinogen urethane to induce lung adenomas. Immunostaining for the TGF-beta ligands and receptors was detected in the epithelia of the bronchioles of untreated and treated A/J mice at similar levels. Immunostaining for the TGF-beta ligands and receptors was also detected in adenomas by 2 mo. While immunostaining for TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 and TGF-beta RI in adenomas was detected at levels comparable to those in bronchioles, immunostaining for TGF-beta RII was less intense in adenomas than in bronchioles. Decreased immunostaining for TGF-beta RII in adenomas persisted for at least 8 mo after exposure to urethane, whereas immunostaining for TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 and TGF-beta RI persisted at levels comparable to those in normal bronchioles. In situ hybridization studies conducted with TGF-beta receptor riboprobes showed a corresponding reduction in expression of TGF-beta RII mRNA but not of TGF-beta RI mRNA in adenomas compared with expression in bronchioles. Expression of TGF-beta RII mRNA was also examined in non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic mouse lung cells; expression of TGF-beta RII mRNA was lower in the tumorigenic cells derived from urethane-induced lung tumors. These data suggest that a decrease in expression of TGF-beta RII may contribute to autonomous cell growth and may play an important role in mouse lung carcinogenesis induced by urethane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, Medicine Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jakowlew
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mariano
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014520:Urethane / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014520:Urethane; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II