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

在本研究中，我首先在CAG启动子的控制下建立了高表达CD109的转基因小鼠，并利用该转基因小鼠研究了其分子功能。我观察到血清可溶性CD109浓度升高。此后，我发现三分之一的转基因小鼠在一岁左右出现了肿瘤。其分子机制仍在研究中。接下来，我通过对CD109的启动子分析，研究了为什么CD109在几种癌症的发生过程中上调。最后，我证明了CD109的表达在癌变过程中通过Egr1的诱导在不同的癌症亚类中上调。

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.