[HTML][HTML] Premature termination of reprogramming in vivo leads to cancer development through altered epigenetic regulation

K Ohnishi, K Semi, T Yamamoto, M Shimizu, A Tanaka… - Cell, 2014 - cell.com
K Ohnishi, K Semi, T Yamamoto, M Shimizu, A Tanaka, K Mitsunaga, K Okita, K Osafune…
Cell, 2014cell.com
Cancer is believed to arise primarily through accumulation of genetic mutations. Although
induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation does not require changes in genomic
sequence, iPSCs acquire unlimited growth potential, a characteristic shared with cancer
cells. Here, we describe a murine system in which reprogramming factor expression in vivo
can be controlled temporally with doxycycline (Dox). Notably, transient expression of
reprogramming factors in vivo results in tumor development in various tissues consisting of …
Summary
Cancer is believed to arise primarily through accumulation of genetic mutations. Although induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation does not require changes in genomic sequence, iPSCs acquire unlimited growth potential, a characteristic shared with cancer cells. Here, we describe a murine system in which reprogramming factor expression in vivo can be controlled temporally with doxycycline (Dox). Notably, transient expression of reprogramming factors in vivo results in tumor development in various tissues consisting of undifferentiated dysplastic cells exhibiting global changes in DNA methylation patterns. The Dox-withdrawn tumors arising in the kidney share a number of characteristics with Wilms tumor, a common pediatric kidney cancer. We also demonstrate that iPSCs derived from Dox-withdrawn kidney tumor cells give rise to nonneoplastic kidney cells in mice, proving that they have not undergone irreversible genetic transformation. These findings suggest that epigenetic regulation associated with iPSC derivation may drive development of particular types of cancer.
cell.com