Global or Granulosa Cell-Specific Pten Mutations in Combination with Elevated FSH Levels Fail to Cause Ovarian Tumours in Mice

Horm Cancer. 2016 Dec;7(5-6):316-326. doi: 10.1007/s12672-016-0272-3. Epub 2016 Aug 9.

Abstract

Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a known tumour suppressor. To explore the role of Pten in ovarian tumorigenesis, we used transgenic (Tg) SOX2. Cre and AMH. Cre mouse models to direct global Pten haploinsufficiency (Pten +/-) or ovary-specific granulosa cell (GC) Pten disruption (Pten GC ). Pten mutant models were combined with progressively rising Tg-follicle-stimulating hormone (TgFSH) levels to study the tumorigenic potential of combined genetic/endocrine modification in vivo. Global Pten +/- mice exhibited grossly detectable tumours in multiple organs including uterine and mammary tissue and displayed reduced survival. Despite extra-ovarian tumorigenesis, Pten +/- females had no detectable ovarian tumours, although elevated corpus luteum numbers increased ovary size and estrous cycling was altered. Combined TgFSH/Pten +/- mice also had no ovarian tumours, but early survival was reduced in the presence of TgFSH. Ovary-specific Pten GC ± TgFSH females exhibited no detectable ovarian or uterine tumours, and corpus luteum numbers and estrous cycling remained unchanged. The non-tumorigenic ovarian phenotypes in Pten +/- and Pten GC ± TgFSH mice support the proposal that multi-hit genetic mutations (including ovarian and extra-ovarian tissue) initiate ovarian tumours. Our findings suggest that elevated FSH may reduce early cancer survival; however, the ovary remains remarkably resistant to Pten-induced tumorigenic changes even in the presence of uterine and reproductive cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / metabolism*
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Organ Size
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics

Substances

  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Sox2 protein, mouse
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse