title: DEK proto-oncogene expression interferes with the normal epithelial differentiation program.
abstract: Overexpression of the DEK gene is associated with multiple human cancers, but its specific roles as a putative oncogene are not well defined. DEK transcription was previously shown to be induced by the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 oncogene via E2F and Rb pathways. Transient DEK overexpression was able to inhibit both senescence and apoptosis in cultured cells. In at least the latter case, this mechanism involved the destabilization of p53 and the decreased expression of p53 target genes. We show here that DEK overexpression disrupts the normal differentiation program in a manner that is independent of either p53 or cell death. DEK expression was distinctly repressed upon the differentiation of cultured primary human keratinocytes, and stable DEK overexpression caused epidermal thickening in an organotypic raft model system. The observed hyperplasia involved a delay in keratinocyte differentiation toward a more undifferentiated state, and expansion of the basal cell compartment was due to increased proliferation, but not apoptosis. These phenotypes were accompanied by elevated p63 expression in the absence of p53 destabilization. In further support of bona fide oncogenic DEK activities, we report here up-regulated DEK protein levels in both human papilloma virus-positive hyperplastic murine skin and a subset of human squamous cell carcinomas. We suggest that DEK up-regulation may contribute to carcinoma development at least in part through increased proliferation and retardation of differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Trisha M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wise-Draper
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Morreale
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mintz-Cole
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Hoskins
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Balsitis
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Husseinzadeh
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wikenheiser-Brokamp
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Susanne I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C084738:DEK protein, human; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C478985:PDRG1 protein, human; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas