Targeted Expression of Spermidine/Spermine N1-Acetyltransferase Increases Susceptibility to Chemically Induced Skin Carcinogenesis

    February 2002 in “ Carcinogenesis
    Catherine S. Coleman, Anthony E. Pegg, Louis C. Megosh, Yongjun Guo, Janet A. Sawicki, Thomas G. O’Brien
    TLDR Increasing SSAT makes skin more prone to cancer.
    The study used transgenic mice with targeted expression of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) in hair follicle keratinocytes to investigate susceptibility to skin cancer. These K6-SSAT transgenic mice, bred onto a tumor-resistant C57BL/6 background, showed a 10-fold increase in epidermal tumors when exposed to a carcinogenesis protocol involving 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The transgenic mice exhibited elevated SSAT activity and protein levels, along with increased putrescine and N1-acetylspermidine, indicating enhanced polyamine catabolism. The study concluded that this activation of polyamine catabolism might play a crucial role in chemically induced skin cancer, as evidenced by the early onset and progression to carcinomas in the transgenic mice.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    3 / 3 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    4 / 4 results

    Similar Research

    5 / 148 results