The Huntington disease protein accelerates breast tumour development and metastasis through ErbB2/HER2 signalling.

ABSTRACT: In Huntington disease (HD), polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein causes specific neuronal death. The consequences of the presence of mutant huntingtin in other tissues are less well understood. Here we propose that mutant huntingtin influences breast cancer progression. Indeed, we show that mammary tumours appear earlier in mouse breast cancer models expressing mutant huntingtin as compared to control mice expressing wild-type huntingtin. Tumours bearing mutant huntingtin have a modified gene expression pattern that reflects enhanced aggressiveness with the overexpression of genes favouring invasion and metastasis. In agreement, mutant huntingtin accelerates epithelial to mesenchymal transition and enhances cell motility and invasion. Also, lung metastasis is higher in HD cond

SUBMITTER: Moreira Sousa C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3569645 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature