Conditional gene targeting reveals cell type-specific roles of the lysosomal protease cathepsin L in mammary tumor progression

Abstract: Background: Cathepsin L (Ctsl) is a cysteine protease mainly located within the endosomal/lysosomal cell compartment. High expression of Ctsl indicates poor prognosis in human breast cancer. However, the cell type-specific Ctsl functions responsible for this association remain elusive. Methods: Because constitutive Ctsl−/− mice develop a complex phenotype, we developed a conditional model allowing for cell type-specific inactivation of Ctsl in mammary epithelium or myeloid cells in the transgenic mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-polyoma middle T (PyMT) breast cancer model. Results: Ctsl ablation in mammary epithelial cells resulted in delayed initiation and end-stage of cancers. The latter displayed large dead cell areas. Inducible in vitro deletion of Ctsl in MMTV-PyMT-derived breast cancer cells revealed expansion of the acidic cell compartment, alteration of intracellular amino acid levels, and impaired mTOR signaling. In consequence, Ctsl-deficient cells exhibited slow growth rates and high apoptosis susceptibility. In contrast to Ctsl-deficient mammary epithelium, selective knockout of Ctsl in myeloid cells had no effects on primary tumors, but promoted lung metastasis formation. Conclusions: Our cell type-specific in vivo analysis provides strong evidence for a cancer cell-intrinsic, tumor-promoting role of Ctsl in primary breast cancer, whereas metastasis is negatively regulated by Ctsl expressed by bone marrow-derived cells

Location
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Extent
Online-Ressource
Language
Englisch
Notes
Cancers. - 12, 8 (2020) , 2004, ISSN: 2072-6694

Keyword
Brustkrebs
Lysosom
Proteolyse

Event
Veröffentlichung
(where)
Freiburg
(who)
Universität
(when)
2020

DOI
10.3390/cancers12082004
URN
urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1667047
Rights
Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
Last update
25.03.2025, 1:54 PM CET

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Time of origin

  • 2020

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