The technology

Astrocyte elevated gene- (AEG-1) and c-Myc are overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) functioning as oncogenes. AEG-1 is transcriptionally regulated by c-Myc and AEG-1 induces c-Myc by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have documented the cooperation of AEG-1 and c-Myc in promoting hepatocarcinogenesis by analyzing hepatocyte-specific transgenic mice expressing either AEG-1 (Alb/AEG-1), c-Myc (Alb/c-Myc) or both (Alb/AEG-1/c-Myc). Their studies revealed a novel cooperative oncogenic effect of AEG-1 and c-Myc that could explain the mechanism of aggressive HCC. Alb/AEG-1/c-Myc mice provide a useful model to understand the molecular mechanism of cooperation between these two oncogenes and other molecules involved in hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Antigen/Gene or Protein Targets
  • Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1
• Model
  • Conditional KO
•   Relevance
  • Mouse model with conditional AEG-1 knockout in myeloid cells
•  Productional Details
  • Floxed AEG-1 mouse (AEG-1fl/fl) in C57BL/6 background were crossed with LsyM/Cre (B6. 129P2-Lyz2tm1(cre)lfo/J)
• Conditional
  • Yes
• Conditional Description
  • Conditional AEG-1ΔMAC knockout after single i.p. injection of 10µg/gm body weight of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) given at 14 days of age followed by 0.05% phenobarbital daily in drinking water.
•  Strain
  • C57BL/6