Cyclin D3 Deficiency Inhibits Skin Tumor Development But Does Not Affect Normal Keratinocyte Proliferation

The study concluded that cyclin D3 deficiency inhibited skin tumor development without affecting normal keratinocyte proliferation. Cyclin D3-null mice exhibited increased apoptosis in the hair follicle bulge region, leading to reduced papilloma formation. Despite normal epidermal homeostasis and keratinocyte proliferation, the absence of cyclin D3 resulted in fewer papillomas and more aggressive tumor phenotypes due to compensatory increases in cyclin D1 levels. The findings suggested that cyclin D3 plays a crucial role in cell survival mechanisms and tumorigenesis, highlighting its potential as a target for cancer therapy while preserving normal skin function. The study involved 15 female mice per group for initial experiments and four groups of 10 mice each for CDK6 overexpression experiments.