Elucidation of CD109 function and its tumor promotion using transgenic mice overexpressing CD109

在本研究中，我首先建立了一个在CAG启动子控制下过表达CD109的转基因小鼠，并利用该转基因小鼠研究了其分子功能。我观察到可溶性CD 109的血清浓度升高。此后，我发现三分之一的转基因小鼠在一岁左右发生了肿瘤。其分子机制仍在研究中。接下来，我通过CD 109的启动子分析研究了为什么CD 109在几种癌的癌变过程中上调。我最终证明，CD109的表达上调，通过Egr 1诱导在其癌变过程中的癌症的子集。

In this study, I first generated a transgenic mouse overexpressing CD109 under control of CAG promoter and investigated its molecular function using the transgenic mouse. I observed elevated serum-concentration of soluble form of CD109. Thereafter I found tumor development in one-third of the transgenic mice around the age of one year. Its molecular mechanisms remain under study. I next investigated why CD109 is up-regulated during carcinogenesis in several carcinomas by promoter analysis of CD109. I finally demonstrated that CD109 expression is up-regulated in subsets of carcinomas through Egr1 induction during their carcinogenesis.