Examining the Role of Nuclear Receptors During In Vivo Chemical-Mediated Breast Tumorigenesis.

The chemical carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) has been used for many decades to induce skin, mammary, and ovarian tumors in mice. There are however a wide range of doses and treatment regimens in the literature that sometimes confound comparative interpretations of different studies. Here we describe a proven method to generate in vivo DMBA-mediated murine mammary tumors to enable consistent studies of the cell targeted role of genes of interest during this process.

Endothelial Cell-Targeted Deletion of PPARγ Blocks Rosiglitazone-Induced Plasma Volume Expansion and Vascular Remodeling in Adipose Tissue.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists that represent an effective class of insulin-sensitizing agents; however, clinical use is associated with weight gain and peripheral edema. To elucidate the role of PPARγ expression in endothelial cells (ECs) in these side effects, EC-targeted PPARγ knockout (Pparg ΔEC) mice were placed on a high-fat diet to promote PPARγ agonist-induced plasma volume expansion, and then treated with the TZD rosiglitazone. Compared with Pparg-floxed wild-type control (Pparg f/f) mice, Pparg ΔEC treated with rosiglitazone are resistant to an increase in extracellular fluid, water content in epididymal and inguinal white adipose tissue, and plasma volume expansion. Interestingly, histologic assessment confirmed significant rosiglitazone-mediated capillary dilation within white adipose tissue of Pparg f/f mice, but not Pparg ΔEC mice. Analysis of ECs isolated from untreated mice in both strains suggested the involvement of changes in endothelial junction formation. Specifically, compared with cells from Pparg f/f mice, Pparg ΔEC cells had a 15-fold increase in focal adhesion kinase, critically important in EC focal adhesions, and >3-fold significant increase in vascular endothelial cadherin, the main component of focal adhesions. Together, these results indicate that rosiglitazone has direct effects on the endothelium via PPARγ activation and point toward a critical role for PPARγ in ECs during rosiglitazone-mediated plasma volume expansion.