Epithelial Pten is dispensable for intestinal homeostasis but suppresses adenoma development and progression after Apc mutation

Nat Genet. 2008 Dec;40(12):1436-44. doi: 10.1038/ng.256. Epub 2008 Nov 16.

Abstract

PTEN acts as a tumor suppressor in a range of tissue types and has been implicated in the regulation of intestinal stem cells. To study Pten function in the intestine, we used various conditional transgenic strategies to specifically delete Pten from the mouse intestinal epithelium. We show that Pten loss specifically within the adult or embryonic epithelial cell population does not affect the normal architecture or homeostasis of the epithelium. However, loss of Pten in the context of Apc deficiency accelerates tumorigenesis through increased activation of Akt, leading to rapid development of adenocarcinoma. We conclude that Pten is redundant in otherwise normal intestinal epithelium and epithelial stem cells but, in the context of activated Wnt signaling, suppresses progression to adenocarcinoma through modulation of activated Akt levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / chemically induced
  • Adenoma / genetics*
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Gene Deletion
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Mice
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • Tamoxifen
  • beta-Naphthoflavone

Substances

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
  • Tamoxifen
  • beta-Naphthoflavone
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse