Analysis of Polycomb group gene role in pancreatic cancer development from pancreatic stem cell

控制正常干细胞自我更新的通路失调被认为是癌症发生的关键早期事件。为了揭示Polycomb-group （PcG）基因在胰腺癌早期发展中的作用，我们分析了PcG基因Bmi1在小鼠胰腺干细胞/祖细胞中的功能。结果表明，过表达Bmi1并没有增强胰腺干/祖细胞的增殖能力和分化能力。我们还在pdx1-cre介导的Kras G12D表达模型小鼠中检测了胰腺肿瘤形成过程中胰腺干/祖细胞的活化。组织学分析显示胰腺小叶内/小叶间胰管高频可见胰腺上皮内瘤变（PanIN）。这些结果将使我们更好地了解胰腺干细胞/祖细胞发展胰腺癌的过程。

Dysregulation in the pathway that control normal stem-cell self-renewal is considered a key early event in carcinogenesis. To reveal the involvement of Polycomb-group (PcG) genes in early event in pancreatic cancer development, we analyzed the function of the PcG gene Bmi1 in murine pancreatic stem/progenitor cells. As a result, overexpressed Bmi1 did not enhance the proliferation capability and differentiation capability of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells. We also examined activation of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells in pancreatic tumor formation in a pdx1-cre mediated Kras G12D expression model mouse. Histological analysis revealed that Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) was observed in intra/ interlobular pancreatic ducts of pancreas with high frequency. These results will enable us to better understand the process of pancreatic cancer development from pancreatic stem/progenitor cells.