Expression of B-RAF V600E in type II pneumocytes causes abnormalities in alveolar formation, airspace enlargement and tumor formation in mice.

ABSTRACT: Growth factor induced signaling cascades are key regulatory elements in tissue development, maintenance and regeneration. Perturbations of these cascades have severe consequences, leading to developmental disorders and neoplastic diseases. As a major function in signal transduction, activating mutations in RAF family kinases are the cause of human tumorigenesis, where B-RAF V600E has been identified as the prevalent mutant. In order to address the oncogenic function of B-RAF V600E, we have generated transgenic mice expressing the activated oncogene specifically in lung alveolar epithelial type II cells. Constitutive expression of B-RAF V600E caused abnormalities in alveolar epithelium formation that led to airspace enlargements. These lung lesions showed signs of tissue remodeling and were

SUBMITTER: Zanucco E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3237599 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature