The LIM Domain Gene LM04 Inhibits Differentiation of Mammary Epithelial Cells in vitro and is Overexpressed in Breast Cancer

LMO4 belongs to a family of LIM-only transcriptional regulators, the first two members of which are oncoproteins in acute T cell leukemia. We have explored a role for LMO4, initially described as a human breast tumor autoantigen, in developing mammary epithelium and breast oncogenesis. Lmo4 was expr...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 98; no. 25; pp. 14452 - 14457
Main Authors Visvader, Jane E., Venter, Deon, Hahm, Kyungmin, Santamaria, Margaret, Eleanor Y. M. Sum, O'Reilly, Lorraine, White, David, Williams, Rachael, Armes, Jane, Lindeman, Geoffrey J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published National Academy of Sciences 04.12.2001
Subjects
Biological Sciences
Breast cancer
Breasts
Cell lines
Epithelial cells
Genes
Mammary glands
Oncogenes
RNA
T lymphocytes
Tumors
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Summary:LMO4 belongs to a family of LIM-only transcriptional regulators, the first two members of which are oncoproteins in acute T cell leukemia. We have explored a role for LMO4, initially described as a human breast tumor autoantigen, in developing mammary epithelium and breast oncogenesis. Lmo4 was expressed predominantly in the lobuloalveoli of the mammary gland during pregnancy. Consistent with a role in proliferation, forced expression of this gene inhibited differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. Overexpression of LM04 mRNA was observed in 5 of 10 human breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, in situ hybridization analysis of 177 primary invasive breast carcinomas revealed overexpression of LM04 in 56% of specimens. Immunohistochemistry confirmed overexpression in a high percentage (62%) of tumors. These studies imply a role for LM04 in maintaining proliferation of mammary epithelium and suggest that deregulation of this gene may contribute to breast tumorigenesis.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490