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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Real-time Imaging of Myeloid Cells Dynamics in ApcMin/+ Intestinal Tumors by Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy
Published on: October 6, 2014
Synergy between tumor suppressor APC and the beta-catenin-Tcf4 target Tcf1
1Department of Immunology and Center for Biomedical Genetics, Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Post Office Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, Netherlands.
Abstract:
Mutations in APC or beta-catenin inappropriately activate the transcription factor Tcf4, thereby transforming intestinal epithelial cells. Here it is shown that one of the target genes of Tcf4 in epithelial cells is Tcf1. The most abundant Tcf1 isoforms lack a beta-catenin interaction domain. Tcf1(-/-) mice develop adenomas in the gut and mammary glands. Introduction of a mutant APC allele into these mice substantially increases the number of these adenomas. Tcf1 may act as a feedback repressor of beta-catenin-Tcf4 target genes and thus may cooperate with APC to suppress malignant transformation of epithelial cells.
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