Overexpression of int-5/aromatase in mammary glands of transgenic mice results in the induction of hyperplasia and nuclear abnormalities.

Our recent studies have shown that the cellular gene at the mouse mammary tumor virus integration site in the int-5 locus is aromatase. To study the role of int-5/aromatase in normal mammary development and mammary neoplasia, we have generated transgenic mice that overexpress int-5/aromatase under the control of mouse mammary tumor virus enhancer/promoter. All the transgenic virgin (n = 10) and postlactational (n = 15) females that overexpress int-5/aromatase show various histological abnormalities. Overexpression of int-5/aromatase in mammary glands of virgin females leads to the enlargement of 40% of ducts, of which 65% had hyperplastic lesions, 20% had dysplastic lesions, and 15% had fibroadenoma lesions. Overexpression of int-5/aromatase in involuted mammary glands of transgenic females induces hyperplasia in 75-80% of ducts and glands that exhibit a range of morphological abnormalities, including formation of hyperplastic alveolar nodule (10%), ductal and glandular hyperplasia (70-80%), ductal and lobular dysplasia (15%), and nuclear abnormalities (2-5%) such as multinucleation and karyomegaly, which are all indicative of preneoplastic changes. Our results show that early exposure of mammary epithelium to in situ estrogen and continued exposure to in situ estrogen as a result of overexpression of int-5/aromatase appears to predispose mammary tissue to preneoplastic changes, which may, in turn, increase the risk of developing neoplasia and increase susceptibility to environmental carcinogens. These findings support clinical and experimental data that suggest that early estrogen exposure increases breast cancer risk.

Structure of the int-5, a novel MMTV integration genomic locus containing mouse early transposon LTR homology region.

Previous studies have reported the cloning and identification of the int-5, a novel mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration locus involved in mammary tumorigenesis. Here we report the characterization of the 5.5 kb region from this novel MMTV integration site. Our results show that the region after the MMTV integration site, a 258 bp sequence is homologous (100%) to the mouse early transposon (mETn) long-terminal repeat and other sequences of the this transposon are not present in the 5.5 kb region. Our results also show for the first time the tumor specific expression of mETn and expression of the region downstream of the MMTV integration site that is homologous to mETn-LTR in D2 mammary tumors.

Enhanced gamma-aminobutyric acid-B receptor agonist responses and mRNA within the nucleus of the solitary tract in hypertension.

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor function and regulation in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was examined in Sprague-Dawley rats made chronically (4 to 5 weeks) hypertensive with the one-kidney, figure-8 renal wrap model of hypertension. NTS microinjection of the GABAB agonist baclofen produced a pressor response that was enhanced in hypertensive rats compared with the response observed in sham-operated normotensive rats (36+/-4 mm Hg increase in mean arterial pressure in 8 hypertensive rats compared with 21+/-2 mm Hg increase in 7 sham-operated normotensive rats, P=0. 03). Responses to microinjection of GABAB antagonists (CGP-55845A and SCH-90511), the GABAA agonist muscimol, the GABAA antagonist bicuculline, and the GABA reuptake inhibitor nipecotic acid were not different comparing normotensive sham-operated and hypertensive rats. Renal sympathetic nerve responses to NTS microinjection of these drugs were not different in hypertensive compared with normotensive rats. Micropunches of the NTS were homogenized and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine mRNA levels for the GABAB receptor. There was a 3-fold increase in GABAB receptor mRNA levels in the caudal NTS of 7 chronically hypertensive rats compared with levels measured in 8 sham-operated normotensive rats (P=0.01). In conclusion, chronic hypertension is associated with an upregulation of GABAB receptor function; however, the tonic activity of the system does not appear to be different between normotensive and hypertensive rats. The upregulation of GABAB receptor function might be due to an increased number of receptors, as suggested by the elevated levels of GABAB receptor mRNA measured in the NTS of hypertensive rats. All of these alterations suggest that hypertension is associated with dynamic changes in receptor-mediated mechanisms within the NTS, and these alterations could modify baroreflex regulation of cardiovascular function in hypertension.

The overexpression of int-5/Aromatase, a novel MMTV integration locus gene, is responsible for D2 mammary tumor cell proliferation.

Our recent studies have shown that the cellular gene at the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration site in the int-5 locus in BALB/c D2 precancerous hyperplastic alveolar nodules is identical to the gene encoding aromatase (CYP19), a member of the cytochrome P450 gene superfamily. MMTV integrated within the 3' untranslated region of the aromatase gene is responsible for the overexpression of this gene (int-5/aromatase) in mammary tumors. This paper describes the biological significance of overexpression of int-5/aromatase in D2 tumor cells. Using a cell line derived from the D2 tumor, we have demonstrated the effect of the aromatase substrate, androstenedione, on the proliferation of tumor cells. Proliferative effects of androstenedione were blocked by an aromatase inhibitor, providing evidence for the role of int-5/aromatase in this process. Furthermore, the androstenedione-mediated proliferation was inhibited by the addition of anti-estrogen ICI 164,384, suggesting that the estrogen formed from the conversion of androstenedione by int-5/aromatase acts like a mitogen to stimulate the growth of D2 tumor cells. This model with its known mechanism of aromatase activation should prove useful for studying the role of intra-tumoral estrogen in mammary cancer, for evaluating the effects of aromatase inhibitors, and for comparing breast cancer treatments.

The nature and expression of int-5, a novel MMTV integration locus gene in carcinogen-induced mammary tumors.

Our previous studies have resulted in the identification and cloning of int-5, a novel site of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration, from BALB/c D2 precancerous hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN). This paper presents a detailed characterization of the int-5 locus from both D2 HAN and normal genome and expression of the unique gene from the MMTV integration site. Our results show that the cellular gene at the MMTV integration site in the int-5 locus is identical to the gene encoding aromatase (CYP19), a member of the cytochrome P-450 gene superfamily. MMTV is integrated within exon 10 in the 3' untranslated region of the aromatase gene. This gene (int-5/aromatase) is expressed in normal mammary gland and overexpressed in mammary tumors. These results suggest that the overexpression of this gene may be responsible for mammary tumorigenesis. This is the first demonstration of integration of MMTV in a cellular gene that plays a role in hormone-dependent breast cancers.

The growth inhibitory effect of conjugated linoleic acid on MCF-7 cells is related to estrogen response system.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to have a direct oncostatic action on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. However, the mechanism involved is not fully elucidated. In this study we have examined whether the inhibitor action is related to the estrogen responsiveness of MCF-7 cells. Our results demonstrate that CLA selectively inhibits proliferation of ER positive MCF-7 cells as compared with ER negative MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell cycle studies indicated that a higher percentage of CLA treated MCF-7 cells remained in the G0/G1 phase as compared to control and those treated with linoleic acid (LA). CLA also inhibited expression of c-myc in MCF-7 cells. These results demonstrate that CLA may inhibit MCF-7 cell growth by interfering with the hormone regulated mitogenic pathway. We are reporting for the first time the involvement of CLA, a dietary factor, in the regulation of hormone mediated mitogenic pathways in ER positive breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro.

A novel in vitro and in vivo breast cancer model for testing inhibitors of estrogen biosynthesis and its action using mammary tumor cells with an activated int-5/aromatase gene.

We recently showed that the cellular gene int-5/aromatase in BALB/c mammary alveolar hyperplastic nodule (D2 HAN/D2 tumor cells) is activated as a result of mouse mammary tumor virus integration within the 3' untranslated region of the aromatase gene. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of various aromatase inhibitors on androstenedione-mediated tumor cell growth. Also, we compared the effect of the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (CGS 16949A) on the inhibition of tumor growth. Our results show that D2 tumor cells respond well to various aromatase inhibitors and antiestrogens. We examined the usefulness of this model by using D2 tumor cells to simulate postmenopausal breast cancer employing both in vitro cell culture and in vivo ovariectomized (OVX) nude mouse. Unlike DMBA-induced tumors or other models, D2 tumor cells form very rapid tumors within a few days in intact mice or OVX nude mice with androstenedione supplementation and respond well to an aromatase inhibitor. This model with its known mechanism of aromatase activation should be useful for studying the role of intra-tumoral estrogen in mammary cancer, for evaluating the effects of aromatase inhibitors and antiestrogens, and for comparing breast cancer treatments.

Comparative analysis of multiple receptor subunit mRNA in micropunches obtained from different brain regions using a competitive RT-PCR method.

Current methods for the quantification of mRNA either require amounts of tissue which make the analyses unsuitable for studies of changes in discrete brain nuclei (RNA protection assay) or limit analysis to a few species at a time (in situ hybridization). A method is described which permits comparative analysis of the expression of mRNAs obtained from punches of the central nervous system. This approach uses a synthetic, PCR-generated, internal standard which is directed towards the same sequence as the target message but is smaller in length. The internal standard is added to the PCR mix and amplified at the same rate as the target message. The mass of both the endogenous target message and internal standard is then measured, using densitometry, and expressed as the mass ratio of target message to internal standard. This approach has been used to compare the expression of mRNA for three receptor subunits: GABAA-alpha 1, NMDA-R1 and Glu-R1, in two distinct brain regions: the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract. The mass ratios of target to internal standard from the PVN and caudal NTS punches from six rats were measured and averaged. In the PVN, the mass ratio of GABAA-alpha 1 message (19.80 +/- 1.20, mean +/- SE) was higher than that of NMDA-R1 (0.74 +/- 0.19, p < 0.01) or Glu-R1 (1.04 +/- 0.07, p < 0.01). Similarly, in the NTS the mass ratio for GABAA-alpha 1 (10.03 +/- 1.67) was higher than that of NMDA-R1 (1.21 +/- 0.13, p < 0.05) or Glu-R1 (0.70 +/- 0.09, p < 0.05). Within both the PVN and NTS, there was no difference between the mass ratios for NMDA-R1 and Glu-R1. Comparing the PVN to the NTS, the mass ratios for GABAA-alpha 1 and Glu-R1 were higher in PVN compared to NTS (p < 0.05), while the ratio for NMDA-R1 was comparable in the two nuclei. The method described permits comparison of relative levels of mRNA expression in anatomically distinct brain nuclei and is appropriate for measuring changes in the receptor subunit composition of a given species following interventions or changes in physiological state.