title: Murine mesothelin: characterization, expression, and inhibition of tumor growth in a murine model of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesothelin has attracted much interest as a tumor specific antigen; it has been reported to promote tumor development and to be a good target for cancer treatment. Most studies to date have used human mesothelin in immunocompromised mice. Since these models do not allow for study of the natural immune response to mesothelin expressing tumors, we have undertaken the characterization of mouse mesothelin so the effects of this protein can be assessed in immunocompetent mouse strains.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed mouse mesothelin expression, tissue distribution, shedding and biochemistry. In addition we constructed stable mesothelin overexpressing lines of the pancreatic cancer line Panc02 by two methods and tested them for growth and tumorigencity in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We show here that mouse mesothelin is similar to human mesothelin in biochemical characteristics, tumor expression and tissue distribution, suggesting the mouse may be a suitable model for study of mesothelin. Stable overexpression of mesothelin in a pancreatic cancer cell line did not increase cell proliferation or anchorage-independent growth in vitro, suggesting that mesothelin is not necessarily a tumor progression factor. Surprisingly overexpression of mesothelin inhibited tumor formation in vivo in immunocompetent mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mouse may be a good model for studying mesothelin in the context of an intact immune response. Mesothelin is not necessarily a tumor progression factor, and indeed mesothelin overexpression inhibited tumor growth in immunocompetent mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, Rm 5E106A mailstop 629, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA. ZERVOSE@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zervos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, Rm 5E106A mailstop 629, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA. scagle@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agle
authors.affiliation: Microbiology & Immunology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, USA. drewfrei86@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Freistaedter
authors.affiliation: Microbiology & Immunology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, USA. bassg@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn J B
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Microbiology & Immunology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, USA. roperr@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D000090204:Mesothelin; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C000715528:Msln protein, mouse; D000090204:Mesothelin