美國科研人員通過老鼠實(shí)驗(yàn)發(fā)現(xiàn)，離群索居會(huì)使雌性哺乳動(dòng)物更容易罹患乳腺癌,。
美國芝加哥大學(xué)科研人員日前發(fā)布公報(bào)稱,，他們先將易引發(fā)乳腺癌的基因植入實(shí)驗(yàn)用雌鼠體內(nèi)，然后將這些實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠分為兩組,，一組實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠被分別置于隔離環(huán)境中,，另一組則被置于集體環(huán)境中。一段時(shí)間后科研人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，與另一組實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠相比,，處于隔離環(huán)境的實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠體內(nèi)出現(xiàn)了數(shù)量更多、體積更大的乳腺腫瘤,。進(jìn)一步研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，獨(dú)居實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠的乳腺組織基因表達(dá)發(fā)生了變化，而這種變化會(huì)促使腫瘤的生長,。
科研人員因此得出結(jié)論,，與集體環(huán)境中的實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠相比，離群索居的實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠更容易罹患乳腺癌,。由于實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠的身體機(jī)能與人類相似,，這一結(jié)論同樣適用于人類。
研究人員表示,，這項(xiàng)研究說明社會(huì)環(huán)境確實(shí)可以改變患者體內(nèi)多種組織的基因表達(dá),，而不只是腦部組織。對人類基因組加深了解,，有助于更有效地預(yù)防乳腺癌等疾病,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Cancer Prevention Research 2, 850, October 1, 2009.doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-08-0238
A Model of Gene-Environment Interaction Reveals Altered Mammary Gland Gene Expression and Increased Tumor Growth following Social Isolation
J. Bradley Williams1, Diana Pang1, Bertha Delgado2,3, Masha Kocherginsky4, Maria Tretiakova2, Thomas Krausz2, Deng Pan1, Jane He1, Martha K. McClintock3 and Suzanne D. Conzen1,3,5
Authors' Affiliations: Departments of 1 Medicine and 2 Pathology, 3 The Institute of Mind and Biology, 4 Department of Health Studies, and 5 Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Clinical studies have revealed that social support improves the outcome of cancer patients, whereas epidemiologic studies suggest that social isolation increases the risk of death associated with several chronic diseases. However, the precise molecular consequences of an unfavorable social environment have not been defined. To do so, robust, reproducible preclinical models are needed to study the mechanisms whereby an adverse environment affects gene expression and cancer biology. Because random assignment of inbred laboratory mice to well-defined social environments allows accurate and repeated measurements of behavioral and endocrine parameters, transgenic mice provide a preclinical framework with which to begin to determine gene-environment mechanisms. In this study, we found that female C3(1)/SV40 T-antigen mice deprived of social interaction from weaning exhibited increased expression of genes encoding key metabolic pathway enzymes in the premalignant mammary gland. Chronic social isolation was associated with up-regulated lipid synthesis and glycolytic pathway gene expression—both pathways are known to contribute to increased breast cancer growth. Consistent with the expression of metabolic genes in premalignant mammary tissue, isolated mice subsequently developed a significantly larger mammary gland tumors burden compared with group-housed mice. Endocrine evaluation confirmed that isolated mice developed a heightened corticosterone stress response compared with group-housed mice. Together, these transdisciplinary studies show for the first time that an adverse social environment is associated with altered mammary gland gene expression and tumor growth. Moreover, the identification of specific alterations in metabolic pathways gene expression favoring tumor growth suggests potential molecular biomarkers and/or targets (e.g., fatty acid synthesis) for preventive intervention in breast cancer.
