Nucling, a novel apoptosis-associated protein, controls mammary gland involution by regulating NF-κB and STAT3.
Postpartum mammary gland involution is the physiological process by which the lactating gland returns to its pre-pregnant state. In rodent models, the microenvironment of mammary gland involution is sufficient to induce enhanced tumor cell growth, local invasion, and metastasis. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the physiological regulation of involution may provide in-depth information on breast cancer therapy. We herein identified Nucling as an important regulator of involution of the mammary gland. A knock-out mouse model was generated and revealed that postpartum involution were impaired in mice lacking Nucling. Involution is normally associated with an increase in the activation of NF-κB and STAT3, which is required for the organized regulation of involution, and was observed in WT glands, but not in the absence of Nucling. Furthermore, the loss of Nucling led to the suppression of Calpain-1, IL-6, and C/EBPδ factors, which are known to be essential for normal involution. The number of M2 macrophages, which are crucial for epithelial cell death and adipocyte repopulation after weaning, was also reduced in Nucling-KO glands. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that Nucling played an important role in mammary gland involution by regulating NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways.
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Huy Van
HV
Dang
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Takashi
T
Sakai
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Tuan Anh
TA
Pham
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Diem Hong
DH
Tran
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Kazuko
K
Yorita
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Shishido
From The Institute for Enzyme Research, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan kiyo.fukui@tokushima-u.ac.jp.
Kiyoshi
K
Fukui
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; C494200:Il6st protein, mouse; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; C483107:Uaca protein, mouse; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D002154:Calpain; C112682:Capn1 protein, mouse
NF-κB; STAT3; apoptosis; macrophage; mammary gland; mammary gland involution; nucling