
The expression of Merlin tumor suppressor protein encoded by Neurofibromin 2 (NF2) gene is remarkably decreased in metastatic breast cancer tissues. In order to recapitulate clinical evidence, we generated a unique, conditional Nf2‐knockout (Nf2−/−) mouse mammary tumor model. Merlin‐deficient breast tumor cells and Nf2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) displayed a robustly invasive phenotype. Moreover, Nf2−/− MEFs presented with notable alterations in redox management networks, implicating a role for Merlin in redox homeostasis. This programmatic alteration resonated with pathways that emerged from breast tumor cells engineered for Merlin deficiency. Further investigations revealed that NF2‐silenced cells supported reduced activity of the Nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 antioxidant transcription factor, concomitant with elevated expression of NADPH oxidase enzymes. Importantly, mammary‐specific Nf2−/− in an Mouse mammary tumor virus Neu + murine breast cancer model demonstrated accelerated mammary carcinogenesis in vivo. Tumor‐derived primary organoids and cell lines were characteristically invasive with evidence of a dysregulated cellular redox management system. As such, Merlin deficiency programmatically influences redox imbalance that orchestrates malignant attributes of mammary/breast cancer.
Mice, Knockout, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Neurofibromin 2, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, ROS, Breast Neoplasms, NOX, Fibroblasts, Antioxidants, NRF2, DUOX, Mice, Oxidative Stress, Cell Line, Tumor, Animals, merlin, Oxidation-Reduction, breast, RC254-282, Research Articles
Mice, Knockout, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Neurofibromin 2, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, ROS, Breast Neoplasms, NOX, Fibroblasts, Antioxidants, NRF2, DUOX, Mice, Oxidative Stress, Cell Line, Tumor, Animals, merlin, Oxidation-Reduction, breast, RC254-282, Research Articles
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| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
