Inadequate DNA Damage Repair Promotes Mammary Transdifferentiation, Leading to BRCA1 Breast Cancer

Hua Wang, Dongxi Xiang, Ben Liu, Aina He, Helena J. Randle, Kelvin Xi Zhang, Anushka Dongre, Norman Sachs, Allison P. Clark, Luwei Tao, Qing Chen, Vladimir V. Botchkarev, Ying Xie, Ning Dai, Hans Clevers, Zhe Li, David M. Livingston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Loss of BRCA1 p220 function often results in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), but the underlying disease mechanism is largely opaque. In mammary epithelial cells (MECs), BRCA1 interacts with multiple proteins, including NUMB and HES1, to form complexes that participate in interstrand crosslink (ICL) DNA repair and MEC differentiation control. Unrepaired ICL damage results in aberrant transdifferentiation to a mesenchymal state of cultured, human basal-like MECs and to a basal/mesenchymal state in primary mouse luminal MECs. Loss of BRCA1, NUMB, or HES1 or chemically induced ICL damage in primary murine luminal MECs results in persistent DNA damage that triggers luminal to basal/mesenchymal transdifferentiation. In vivo single-cell analysis revealed a time-dependent evolution from normal luminal MECs to luminal progenitor-like tumor cells with basal/mesenchymal transdifferentiation during murine BRCA1 BLBC development. Growing DNA damage accompanied this malignant transformation. The tumor suppressor BRCA1 and certain of its partners prevent the aberrant transdifferentiation of mammary epithelial cells to a mesenchymal state by participating in interstrand crosslink DNA repair.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-151.e19
JournalCell
Volume178
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BRCA1
  • breast cancer
  • cell fate
  • cisplatin
  • CtIP
  • EMT
  • HES1
  • ICL repair
  • mouse model
  • NUMB
  • single-cell analysis
  • transdifferentiation

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