Context dependent roles for RB-E2F transcriptional regulation in tumor suppression

PLoS One. 2019 Jan 31;14(1):e0203577. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203577. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

RB-E2F transcriptional control plays a key role in regulating the timing of cell cycle progression from G1 to S-phase in response to growth factor stimulation. Despite this role, it is genetically dispensable for cell cycle exit in primary fibroblasts in response to growth arrest signals. Mice engineered to be defective for RB-E2F transcriptional control at cell cycle genes were also found to live a full lifespan with no susceptibility to cancer. Based on this background we sought to probe the vulnerabilities of RB-E2F transcriptional control defects found in Rb1R461E,K542E mutant mice (Rb1G) through genetic crosses with other mouse strains. We generated Rb1G/G mice in combination with Trp53 and Cdkn1a deficiencies, as well as in combination with KrasG12D. The Rb1G mutation enhanced Trp53 cancer susceptibility, but had no effect in combination with Cdkn1a deficiency or KrasG12D. Collectively, this study indicates that compromised RB-E2F transcriptional control is not uniformly cancer enabling, but rather has potent oncogenic effects when combined with specific vulnerabilities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • E2F Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Ki-67 Antigen / analysis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / genetics*
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cdkn1a protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Trp53 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)

Grants and funding