A temporal requirement for Hippo signaling in mammary gland differentiation, growth, and tumorigenesis

Qian Chen, Nailing Zhang, Ryan S. Gray, Huili Li, Andrew J. Ewald, Cynthia A. Zahnow, Duojia Pan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite recent progress, the physiological role of Hippo signaling in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Here we show that the Hippo pathway is functionally dispensable in virgin mammary glands but specifically required during pregnancy. In contrast to many other tissues, hyperactivation of YAP in mammary epithelia does not induce hyperplasia but leads to defects in terminal differentiation. Interestingly, loss of YAP causes no obvious defects in virgin mammary glands but potently suppresses oncogeneinduced mammary tumors. The selective requirement for YAP in oncogenic growth highlights the potential of YAP inhibitors as molecular targeted therapies against breast cancers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)432-437
Number of pages6
JournalGenes and Development
Volume28
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2014

Keywords

  • Differentiation
  • Hippo signaling
  • Mammary gland
  • Proliferation
  • Tumorigenesis
  • YAP

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

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