Crucial Roles of the Mesenchymal Androgen Receptor in Wolffian Duct Development.

Wolffian duct (WD) maintenance and differentiation is predominantly driven by the androgen action, which is mediated by the androgen receptor (AR). It is well established that the mesenchyme indicates the fate and differentiation of epithelial cells. However, in vivo developmental requirement of mesenchymal AR in WD development is still undefined.

Epithelial and mesenchymal fate decisions in Wolffian duct development.

Wolffian ducts (WDs) are the paired embryonic structures that give rise to internal male reproductive tract organs. WDs are initially formed in both sexes but have sex-specific fates during sexual differentiation. Understanding WD differentiation requires insights into the process of fate decisions of epithelial and mesenchymal cells, which are tightly coordinated by endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signals.

Activation of p53-regulated pro-survival signals and hypoxia-independent mitochondrial targeting of TIGAR by human papillomavirus E6 oncoproteins.

The high-risk subtype human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs) infect and oncogenically transform basal epidermal stem cells associated with the development of squamous-cell epithelial cancers. The viral E6 oncoprotein destabilizes the p53 tumor suppressor, inhibits p53 K120-acetylation by the Tat-interacting protein of 60 kDa (TIP60, or Kat5), and prevents p53-dependent apoptosis. Intriguingly, the p53 gene is infrequently mutated in HPV + cervical cancer clinical isolates which suggests a possible paradoxical role for this gatekeeper in viral carcinogenesis.

Morphogenesis of the female reproductive tract along antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes is dependent on Amhr2+ mesenchyme in mice†.

Morphogenesis of the female reproductive tract is regulated by the mesenchyme. However, the identity of the mesenchymal lineage that directs the morphogenesis of the female reproductive tract has not been determined. Using in vivo genetic cell ablation, we identified Amhr2+ mesenchyme as an essential mesenchymal population in patterning the female reproductive tract.