α-Inhibin is a tumour-suppressor gene with gonadal specificity in mice

The inhibins are alpha:beta heterodimeric growth factors that are members of the transforming growth factor-beta family. To understand the physiological roles of the inhibins in mammalian development and reproduction, a targeted deletion of the alpha-inhibin gene was generated by homologous recombin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1992-11, Vol.360 (6402), p.313-319
Main Authors: MATZUK, M. M, FINEGOLD, M. J, SU, J.-G. J, HSUEH, A. J. W, BRADLEY, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell physiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
Gonads - embryology
Gonads - pathology
Gonads - physiology
Heterozygote
Homozygote
Inhibins - deficiency
Inhibins - genetics
Inhibins - physiology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Molecular and cellular biology
Mutagenesis
Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics
Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology
Responses to growth factors, tumor promotors, other factors
Testicular Neoplasms - genetics
Testicular Neoplasms - pathology
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Summary:The inhibins are alpha:beta heterodimeric growth factors that are members of the transforming growth factor-beta family. To understand the physiological roles of the inhibins in mammalian development and reproduction, a targeted deletion of the alpha-inhibin gene was generated by homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the null allele (inhibin-deficient) initially develop normally but every mouse ultimately develops mixed or incompletely differentiated gonadal stromal tumours either unilaterally or bilaterally. Inhibin is thus a critical negative regulator of gonadal stromal cell proliferation and the first secreted protein identified to have tumour-suppressor activity.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/360313a0