Colorectal cancer in mice genetically deficient in the mucin Muc2

Science. 2002 Mar 1;295(5560):1726-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1069094.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is lined by a layer of mucus comprised of highly glycosylated proteins called mucins. To evaluate the importance of mucin in intestinal carcinogenesis, we constructed mice genetically deficient in Muc2, the most abundant secreted gastrointestinal mucin. Muc2-/- mice displayed aberrant intestinal crypt morphology and altered cell maturation and migration. Most notably, the mice frequently developed adenomas in the small intestine that progressed to invasive adenocarcinoma, as well as rectal tumors. Thus, Muc2 is involved in the suppression of colorectal cancer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenoma / chemistry
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Movement
  • Colon / chemistry
  • Colon / cytology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / analysis
  • Disease Progression
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Duodenum / chemistry
  • Duodenum / cytology
  • Duodenum / pathology
  • Epithelial Cells / chemistry
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Gene Targeting
  • Goblet Cells / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / chemistry
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mucin-2
  • Mucins / analysis
  • Mucins / genetics*
  • Mucins / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / analysis
  • Trans-Activators*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Muc2 protein, mouse
  • Mucin-2
  • Mucins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Trans-Activators
  • beta Catenin