Wnt signaling though beta-catenin is required for prostate lineage specification.

TitleWnt signaling though beta-catenin is required for prostate lineage specification.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsSimons BW, Hurley PJ, Huang Z, Ross AE, Miller R, Marchionni L, Berman DM, Schaeffer EM
JournalDev Biol
Volume371
Issue2
Pagination246-55
Date Published2012 Nov 15
ISSN1095-564X
KeywordsAnimals, beta Catenin, Cell Differentiation, Homeodomain Proteins, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Prostate, Transcription Factors, Wnt Signaling Pathway
Abstract

Androgens initiate a complex network of signals within the UGS that trigger prostate lineage commitment and bud formation. Given its contributions to organogenesis in other systems, we investigated a role for canonical Wnt signaling in prostate development. We developed a new method to achieve complete deletion of beta-catenin, the transcriptional coactivator required for canonical Wnt signaling, in early prostate development. Beta-catenin deletion abrogated canonical Wnt signaling and yielded prostate rudiments that exhibited dramatically decreased budding and failed to adopt prostatic identity. This requirement for canonical Wnt signaling was limited to a brief critical period during the initial molecular phase of prostate identity specification. Deletion of beta-catenin in the adult prostate did not significantly affect organ homeostasis. Collectively, these data establish that beta-catenin and Wnt signaling play key roles in prostate lineage specification and bud outgrowth.

DOI10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.08.016
Alternate JournalDev Biol
PubMed ID22960283
Grant ListP30CA006973 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
DK081019 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
/ HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States
5R01DK72000-5 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
Related Faculty: 
Luigi Marchionni, M.D., Ph.D.

Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 1300 York Avenue New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 746-6464
Surgical Pathology: (212) 746-2700