Decision Letter: Interplay of Opposing Fate Choices Stalls Oncogenic Growth in Murine Skin Epithelium
February 2020
TLDR Skin cells can naturally limit the growth of cancerous changes by balancing cell renewal and differentiation.
The study examined the effects of the HRAS oncogene in mouse skin epithelium, revealing that oncogenic lesions create two cell populations: self-renewing cells at the tumor border and differentiating cells at the center, which stabilizes growth. Using a genetically engineered mouse model and a modified CFI assay, the researchers identified Rassf5 as a negative regulator of HRAS. They found that HrasG12V clones grow in a circular shape and exhibit self-limiting growth, with edge cells renewing and inner cells differentiating. Wild-type cells near HrasG12V clones showed reduced renewal, influenced by the local environment. The study suggested that the interaction between wild-type and oncogenic cells, along with tissue architecture, regulates clone growth and differentiation in the epidermis.
