PDEF is a negative regulator of colon cancer cell growth and migration.

ETS is a family of transcriptional regulators with functions in most biological processes. Dysregulated ETS factor function leads to altered expression of multiple genes that play critical roles in many of the processes required for cancer progression. While the Ets family gene, prostate-derived ETS factor (PDEF), is expressed in epithelial tissues including prostate, breast, and colon, PDEF protein expression has been found to be reduced or lost during prostate and breast cancer progression.

Beyond expression profiling: next generation uses of high density oligonucleotide arrays.

In the past decade, microarray technology has become a major tool for high-throughput comprehensive analysis of gene expression, genotyping and resequencing applications. Currently, the most widely employed application of high-density oligonucleotide arrays (HDOAs) involves monitoring changes in gene expression. This application has been carried out in a variety of organisms ranging from Escherichia coli to humans.

Pdef expression in human breast cancer is correlated with invasive potential and altered gene expression.

Ets transcription factors control multiple biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, transformation, and invasion. Pdef is an Ets transcription factor originally identified in prostate tissue. We demonstrate that human Pdef is expressed at high levels primarily in tissues with high epithelial cell content, including prostate, colon, and breast.

The epithelial-specific Ets factors occupy a unique position in defining epithelial proliferation, differentiation and carcinogenesis.

The Ets family of transcription factors regulates many biological processes. Within the Ets family are a subset of proteins that have epithelial restricted expression patterns, both in tissues and cell lines. These Epithelial-specific Ets (Ese) factors, cluster into two groups based on the sequence of the Ets DNA binding domain: (i) Ese1, Ese2 and Ese3, and (ii) the more divergent, Pdef.

Ets1 is an effector of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta ) signaling pathway and an antagonist of the profibrotic effects of TGF-beta.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) production and turnover are tightly controlled under normal physiological conditions. Ets factors regulate matrix turnover by activating transcription of several metalloproteinases (MMPs) and are frequently overexpressed in aggressive tumors and arthritis. Because of the prominent role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in ECM synthesis, this study was undertaken to determine the possible interactions between Ets1 and the TGF-beta pathway.