title: Targeted expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase RON in distal lung epithelial cells results in multiple tumor formation: oncogenic potential of RON in vivo.
abstract: RON, a member of the MET proto-oncogene family, has been implicated in the progression of certain epithelial cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine the oncogenic potential of RON in vivo in lung epithelial cells. Transgenic mice were established using surfactant protein C promoter to express human RON in the distal lung epithelial cells. These mice were born normal but developed multiple lung tumors with distinct morphology and growth patterns. Tumors appeared as a single mass in the lung around 2 months of age and gradually developed into multiple nodules located mostly in the peripheral portions of the lung. A transition from early adenomas to later adenocarcinomas was observed. Morphologically, tumors were characterized as cuboidal epithelial cells with a type II cell phenotype, grew along the alveolar walls, and projected into the alveolar septa. RON was highly expressed and constitutively activated in tumors. These results indicate that overexpression of human wild-type RON causes the formation of lung tumors with unique biological characteristics in vivo. This model provides opportunities to study the role of RON in the pathogenesis of lung tumors and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this distinct lung tumor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, CU Cancer Center, and Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, CO 80204, USA.
authors.forename: Yi-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Ming-Hai
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases