title: Mapping a sex hormone-sensitive gene determining female resistance to liver carcinogenesis in a congenic F344.BN-Hcs4 rat.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent in human and rodent males. Hepatocarcinogenesis is controlled by various genes in susceptible F344 and resistant Brown Norway (BN) rats. B alleles at Hcs4 locus, on RNO16, control neoplastic nodule volume. We constructed the F344.BN-Hcs4 recombinant congenic strain (RCS) by introgressing a 4.41-cM portion of Hcs4 from BN strain in an isogenic F344 background. Preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions were induced by the "resistant hepatocyte" protocol. Eight weeks after initiation, lesion volume and positivity for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were much higher in lesions of F344 than BN rats of both sexes. These variables were lower in females than in males. Lesion volume and PCNA values of male RCS were similar to those of F344 rats, but in females corresponded to those of BN females. Carcinomatous nodules and HCC developed at 32 and 60 weeks, respectively, in male F344 and congenics and, rarely, in F344 females. BN and congenic females developed only eosinophilic/clear cells nodules. Gonadectomy of congenic males, followed by beta-estradiol administration, caused a decrease in Ar expression, an increase in Er-alpha expression, and development of preneoplastic lesions comparable to those from BN females. Administration of testosterone to gonadectomized females led to Ar increase and development of preneoplastic lesions as in F344 males. This indicates a role of homozygous B alleles at Hcs4 in the determination of phenotypic patterns of female RCS and presence at Hcs4 locus of a high penetrance gene(s), activated by estrogens and inhibited/unaffected by testosterone, conferring resistance to females in which the B alleles provide higher resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: De Miglio
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Virdis
authors.forename: Diego F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Calvisi
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frau
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Muroni
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Simile
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daino
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Careddu
authors.forename: Eraldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanna-Passino
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011944:Receptors, Androgen