Biomaterial Database

Metastasis of benign tumor cells in tuberous sclerosis complex. 2003

Elizabeth Petri Henske

Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. EP_Henske@fccc.edu

Lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) is a life-threatening lung disease affecting almost exclusively young women. Histologically, LAM is characterized by the diffuse, bilateral proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle cells and cystic degeneration of the lung parenchyma. LAM can occur as an isolated disorder (sporadic LAM), or in women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC-LAM). Patients with both sporadic LAM and TSC-LAM often have benign renal angiomyolipomas. The smooth muscle cells within the angiomyolipomas are very similar to the smooth muscle cells in pulmonary LAM. Genetic data suggest that pulmonary LAM is the result of a highly unusual disease mechanism: the metastasis of benign cells. If LAM is the result of metastasis, it is remarkable that the metastasis occurs in women, but not in men. In this review, I discuss the genetic data supporting this metastatic model for LAM. The implications of the model for the functions of the TSC1 and TSC2 gene products, hamartin and tuberin, respectively, will also be considered. Hamartin and tuberin may play functional roles in the suppression of cell migration and/or metastasis, possibly through their regulation of the small GTPase Rho.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008175	Lung Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the LUNG.	Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D012097	Repressor Proteins	Proteins which maintain the transcriptional quiescence of specific GENES or OPERONS. Classical repressor proteins are DNA-binding proteins that are normally bound to the OPERATOR REGION of an operon, or the ENHANCER SEQUENCES of a gene until a signal occurs that causes their release.	Repressor Molecules,Transcriptional Silencing Factors,Proteins, Repressor,Silencing Factors, Transcriptional
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077004	Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein	An intracellular signaling and tumor suppressor protein that forms a complex with TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS COMPLEX 2 PROTEIN (TSC2) and other signaling factors to negatively regulate MTORC1 signaling and affect cell growth and proliferation. Structurally, it interacts with TSC2 through its N-terminal, which also contains GSK-3BETA phosphorylation sites and a RHO-KINASE activation domain. It also contains a C-terminal coiled-coil domain and ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) domain. Mutations in the TSC1 gene are associated with TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS.	Hamartin
D000077005	Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein	An intracellular signaling and tumor suppressor protein that forms a complex with TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS COMPLEX 1 PROTEIN (TSC1) and other signaling factors to negatively regulate MTORC1 and affect cell growth and proliferation. It can also function as GTPASE-ACTIVATING PROTEIN (GAP) for RHEB GTPASE to activate mTORC1 independent of its role in the complex. Structurally, it interacts with TSC1 through its N-terminus, which also contains a leucine zipper and coiled-coil region. It also has multiple phosphorylation sites for different cell signaling kinases, a central coiled-coil region, a C-terminal GAP domain and CALMODULIN binding domain. Mutations in the TSC2 gene are associated with TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS.	Tuberin,Tuberous Sclerosis 2 Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014402	Tuberous Sclerosis	Autosomal dominant neurocutaneous syndrome classically characterized by MENTAL RETARDATION; EPILEPSY; and skin lesions (e.g., adenoma sebaceum and hypomelanotic macules). There is, however, considerable heterogeneity in the neurologic manifestations. It is also associated with cortical tuber and HAMARTOMAS formation throughout the body, especially the heart, kidneys, and eyes. Mutations in two loci TSC1 and TSC2 that encode hamartin and tuberin, respectively, are associated with the disease.	Bourneville Disease,Epiloia,Phakomatosis, Bourneville,Adenoma Sebaceum,Bourneville Phakomatosis,Bourneville Syndrome,Bourneville's Disease,Bourneville's Syndrome,Bourneville-Pringle Disease,Bourneville-Pringle's Disease,Cerebral Sclerosis,Phacomatosis, Bourneville,Sclerosis Tuberosa,Tuberose Sclerosis,Tuberous Sclerosis Complex,Bourneville Phacomatosis,Bourneville Pringle Disease,Bourneville Pringle's Disease,Bourneville-Pringles Disease,Cerebral Scleroses,Disease, Bourneville-Pringle,Disease, Bourneville-Pringle's,Sclerosis, Cerebral,Sclerosis, Tuberose,Sclerosis, Tuberous,Syndrome, Bourneville,Syndrome, Bourneville's
D018192	Lymphangioleiomyomatosis	A disease characterized by the progressive invasion of SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS into the LYMPHATIC VESSELS, and the BLOOD VESSELS. The majority of the cases occur in the LUNGS of women of child-bearing age, eventually blocking the flow of air, blood, and lymph. The common symptom is shortness of breath (DYSPNEA).	Lymphangiomyomatosis,Lymphangioleiomyomatoses,Lymphangiomyomatoses
D025521	Tumor Suppressor Proteins	Proteins that are normally involved in holding cellular growth in check. Deficiencies or abnormalities in these proteins may lead to unregulated cell growth and tumor development.	Growth Suppressor Proteins,Metastasis Suppressor Protein,Metastasis Suppressor Proteins,Tumor Suppressor Protein,Protein, Metastasis Suppressor,Protein, Tumor Suppressor,Proteins, Growth Suppressor,Proteins, Metastasis Suppressor,Proteins, Tumor Suppressor,Suppressor Protein, Metastasis,Suppressor Protein, Tumor