Role of tissue differentiation factors in endocrine tumorigenesis

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Germline mutations in the MEN1 gene encoding menin predispose to endocrine tumors mainly of the parathyroids, anterior pituitary and entero-pancreatic endocrine tissues. We have investigated the molecular basis of this tissue specific tumorigenesis from menin loss in the pathogenesis of tumors of the pancreatic islet β-cells (insulinoma). It is possible that menin regulates one or more tissue-specific factors such as those that control differentiation during embryogenesis. Therefore, we assessed the effect of menin loss or gain on the expression of factors that are known to control β-cell differentiation. We found that the β-cell differentiation factor Hlxb9 is post-transcriptionally upregulated upon menin loss. Hlxb9 causes apoptosis in the presence of menin, and it regulates genes that modulate insulin level. Thus, dysregulation of Hlxb9 predicts a possible combined mechanism for β-cell proliferation and constitutive insulin production in insulinomas. This would result from the possible blockade of the pro-apoptotic activity of Hlxb9 upon menin loss, and increased insulin from increased Hlxb9 upon menin loss. These findings advance the understanding of how a ubiquitously expressed protein such as menin controls tissue specific tumorigenesis. Moreover, our data reveal the mechanisms of action of Hlxb9 and its targets in β-cells. We are currently investigating the role of Hlxb9 in sporadic pancreatic endocrine tumors, and the molecular mechanisms by which the menin-Hlxb9 association promotes apoptosis. These studies will provide insights into the pathways and actions of Hlxb9 and its targets in normal β-cells and in β-cell tumors.