Sox4 links tumor suppression to accelerated aging in mice by modulating stem cell activation.

ABSTRACT: Sox4 expression is restricted in mammals to embryonic structures and some adult tissues, such as lymphoid organs, pancreas, intestine, and skin. During embryogenesis, Sox4 regulates mesenchymal and neural progenitor survival, as well as lymphocyte and myeloid differentiation, and contributes to pancreas, bone, and heart development. Aberrant Sox4 expression is linked to malignant transformation and metastasis in several types of cancer. To understand the role of Sox4 in the adult organism, we first generated mice with reduced whole-body Sox4 expression. These mice display accelerated aging and reduced cancer incidence. To specifically address a role for Sox4 in adult stem cells, we conditionally deleted Sox4 (Sox4(cKO)) in stratified epithelia. Sox4(cKO) mice show increased skin stem cell

SUBMITTER: Foronda M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4905521 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature