Mammary gland specific expression of Brk/PTK6 promotes delayed involution and tumor formation associated with activation of p38 MAPK

Kristopher A. Lofgren, Julie H. Ostrander, Daniel Housa, Gregory K. Hubbard, Alessia Locatelli, Robin L. Bliss, Kathryn L. Schwertfeger, Carol A. Lange

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are frequently overexpressed and/or activated in human malignancies, and regulate cancer cell proliferation, cellular survival, and migration. As such, they have become promising molecular targets for new therapies. The non-receptor PTK termed breast tumor kinase (Brk/PTK6) is overexpressed in approximately 86% of human breast tumors. The role of Brk in breast pathology is unclear.Methods: We expressed a WAP-driven Brk/PTK6 transgene in FVB/n mice, and analyzed mammary glands from wild-type (wt) and transgenic mice after forced weaning. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies were conducted to visualize markers of mammary gland involution, cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as Brk, STAT3, and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in mammary tissues and tumors from WAP-Brk mice. Human (HMEC) or mouse (HC11) mammary epithelial cells were stably or transiently transfected with Brk cDNA to assay p38 MAPK signaling and cell survival in suspension or in response to chemotherapeutic agents.Results: Brk-transgenic dams exhibited delayed mammary gland involution and aged mice developed infrequent tumors with reduced latency relative to wt mice. Consistent with delayed involution, mammary glands of transgenic animals displayed decreased STAT3 phosphorylation, a marker of early-stage involution. Notably, p38 MAPK, a pro-survival signaling mediator downstream of Brk, was activated in mammary glands of Brk transgenic relative to wt mice. Brk-dependent signaling to p38 MAPK was recapitulated by Brk overexpression in the HC11 murine mammary epithelial cell (MEC) line and human MEC, while Brk knock-down in breast cancer cells blocked EGF-stimulated p38 signaling. Additionally, human or mouse MECs expressing Brk exhibited increased anchorage-independent survival and resistance to doxorubicin. Finally, breast tumor biopsies were subjected to IHC analysis for co-expression of Brk and phospho-p38 MAPK; ductal and lobular carcinomas expressing Brk were significantly more likely to express elevated phospho-p38 MAPK.Conclusions: These studies illustrate that forced expression of Brk/PTK6 in non-transformed mammary epithelial cells mediates p38 MAPK phosphorylation and promotes increased cellular survival, delayed involution, and latent tumor formation. Brk expression in human breast tumors may contribute to progression by inducing p38-driven pro-survival signaling pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberR89
JournalBreast Cancer Research
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 17 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Dr. Ilze Matise (Masonic Cancer Center Comparative Pathology Core) for the initial pathology consults, Dr. Jeff Rosen (Baylor College of Medicine) for the gift of the WkbpAII transgene vector, Abby Olsen for transgene preparation, and Jonathan Henriksen (University of Minnesota BioNet Digital Imaging Facility) for imaging assistance. This work was supported by NIH/NCI grant R01 CA107547 (to CAL) and a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program pre-doctoral fellowship BC061473 (to KAL).

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