Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.

ERBB3 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target to treat colorectal and other types of cancers. To confirm a previous study showing intestinal polyps are dependent upon ERBB3, we generated an intestinal epithelia-specific ERBB3 deletion in C57BL/6-ApcMin/+ mice. Contrary to the previous...

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Main Authors: Carolina Mantilla Rojas, Michael P McGill, Anna C Salvador, David Bautz, David W Threadgill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-11-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009931
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author Carolina Mantilla Rojas
Michael P McGill
Anna C Salvador
David Bautz
David W Threadgill
author_facet Carolina Mantilla Rojas
Michael P McGill
Anna C Salvador
David Bautz
David W Threadgill
author_sort Carolina Mantilla Rojas
collection DOAJ
description ERBB3 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target to treat colorectal and other types of cancers. To confirm a previous study showing intestinal polyps are dependent upon ERBB3, we generated an intestinal epithelia-specific ERBB3 deletion in C57BL/6-ApcMin/+ mice. Contrary to the previous report showing a significant reduction in intestinal polyps with ablation of ERBB3 on a B6;129 mixed genetic background, we observed a significant increase in polyp number with ablation of ERBB3 on C57BL/6J compared to control littermates. We confirmed the genetic background dependency of ERBB3 by also analyzing polyp development on B6129 hybrid and B6;129 advanced intercross mixed genetic backgrounds, which showed that ERBB3 deficiency only reduced polyp number on the mixed background as previously reported. Increased polyp number with ablation of ERBB3 was also observed in C57BL/6J mice treated with azoxymethane showing the effect is model independent. Polyps forming in absence of ERBB3 were generally smaller than those forming in control mice, albeit the effect was greatest in genetic backgrounds with reduced polyp numbers. The mechanism for differential polyp number in the absence of ERBB3 was through altered proliferation. Backgrounds with increased polyp number with loss of ERBB3 showed an increase in cell proliferation even in non-tumor epithelia, while backgrounds showing reduced polyp number with loss of ERBB3 showed reduced cellular proliferation. Increase polyp number caused by loss of ERBB3 was mediated by increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, which was confirmed by deletion of Egfr. Taken together, this study raises substantial implications on the use of ERBB3 inhibitors against colorectal cancer. The prediction is that some patients may have increased progression with ERBB3 inhibitor therapy, which is consistent with observations reported for ERBB3 inhibitor clinical trials.
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spelling doaj.art-bd73c639044d469990151c1c47603ca02022-12-21T18:13:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042021-11-011711e100993110.1371/journal.pgen.1009931Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.Carolina Mantilla RojasMichael P McGillAnna C SalvadorDavid BautzDavid W ThreadgillERBB3 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target to treat colorectal and other types of cancers. To confirm a previous study showing intestinal polyps are dependent upon ERBB3, we generated an intestinal epithelia-specific ERBB3 deletion in C57BL/6-ApcMin/+ mice. Contrary to the previous report showing a significant reduction in intestinal polyps with ablation of ERBB3 on a B6;129 mixed genetic background, we observed a significant increase in polyp number with ablation of ERBB3 on C57BL/6J compared to control littermates. We confirmed the genetic background dependency of ERBB3 by also analyzing polyp development on B6129 hybrid and B6;129 advanced intercross mixed genetic backgrounds, which showed that ERBB3 deficiency only reduced polyp number on the mixed background as previously reported. Increased polyp number with ablation of ERBB3 was also observed in C57BL/6J mice treated with azoxymethane showing the effect is model independent. Polyps forming in absence of ERBB3 were generally smaller than those forming in control mice, albeit the effect was greatest in genetic backgrounds with reduced polyp numbers. The mechanism for differential polyp number in the absence of ERBB3 was through altered proliferation. Backgrounds with increased polyp number with loss of ERBB3 showed an increase in cell proliferation even in non-tumor epithelia, while backgrounds showing reduced polyp number with loss of ERBB3 showed reduced cellular proliferation. Increase polyp number caused by loss of ERBB3 was mediated by increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, which was confirmed by deletion of Egfr. Taken together, this study raises substantial implications on the use of ERBB3 inhibitors against colorectal cancer. The prediction is that some patients may have increased progression with ERBB3 inhibitor therapy, which is consistent with observations reported for ERBB3 inhibitor clinical trials.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009931
spellingShingle Carolina Mantilla Rojas
Michael P McGill
Anna C Salvador
David Bautz
David W Threadgill
Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
PLoS Genetics
title Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
title_full Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
title_fullStr Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
title_full_unstemmed Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
title_short Epithelial-specific ERBB3 deletion results in a genetic background-dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by EGFR.
title_sort epithelial specific erbb3 deletion results in a genetic background dependent increase in intestinal and colon polyps that is mediated by egfr
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009931
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