The uteroglobin promoter targets expression of the SV40 T antigen to a variety of secretory epithelial cells in transgenic mice

Adenocarcinomas derived from the lining epithelia of various organs are the most common malignant tumors in human pathology and about 50% are hormone dependent. The tissue-specific and hormally regulated expression of the rabbitt uteroglobin gene is secretory epithelial cells could provide a means of establishing in vivo models for a variety of human tumors originating from such tissues. We have generated transgenic mice inheriting a hybrid gene containing 4.7 kb of the rabbit uteroglobin 5'-flanking sequences fused to the SV40 T antigen encoding region. All transgenic founders examined exhibited bronchio-alveolar adenocarcinomas, probably due to expression of the transgene in Clara cells. Most founders also developed tumors of the submandibular salivary gland, and adenocarcinomas of the stomach. Adenocarcinomas and dysplasias in epithelial cells of the male and female genital tract were found in single founders. (Abstract truncated)