The estrogen-responsive Agr2 gene regulates mammary epithelial proliferation and facilitates lobuloalveolar development.

ABSTRACT: Agr2 is a putative protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) initially identified as an estrogen-responsive gene in breast cancer cell lines. While Agr2 expression in breast cancer is positively correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) expression, it is upregulated in both hormone dependent and independent carcinomas. Several in vitro and xenograft studies have implicated Agr2 in different oncogenic features of breast cancer; however, the physiological role of Agr2 in normal mammary gland development remains to be defined. Agr2 expression is developmentally regulated in the mammary gland, with maximum expression during late pregnancy and lactation. Using a mammary gland specific knockout mouse model, we show that Agr2 facilitates normal lobuloalveolar development by regulating mammary epithelial cel

SUBMITTER: Verma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3465459 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature