Basal cell carcinomas in mice overexpressing sonic hedgehog

Science. 1997 May 2;276(5313):817-21. doi: 10.1126/science.276.5313.817.

Abstract

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene PATCHED (PTC) are found in human patients with the basal cell nevus syndrome, a disease causing developmental defects and tumors, including basal cell carcinomas. Gene regulatory relationships defined in the fruit fly Drosophila suggest that overproduction of Sonic hedgehog (SHH), the ligand for PTC, will mimic loss of ptc function. It is shown here that transgenic mice overexpressing SHH in the skin develop many features of basal cell nevus syndrome, demonstrating that SHH is sufficient to induce basal cell carcinomas in mice. These data suggest that SHH may have a role in human tumorigenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / genetics*
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / metabolism
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Patched Receptors
  • Patched-1 Receptor
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Trans-Activators*

Substances

  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Patched Receptors
  • Patched-1 Receptor
  • Proteins
  • Ptch1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • SHH protein, human
  • Trans-Activators