Helix-loop-helix proteins in mammary gland development and breast cancer

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors functions in the coordinated regulation of gene expression, cell lineage commitment, and cell differentiation in most mammalian tissues. Helix-loop-helix Id (Inhibitor of DNA binding) proteins are distinct from bHLH transcription factors in that they lack the basic domain necessary for DNA binding. Id proteins thus function as dominant negative regulators of bHLH transcription factors. The inhibition of bHLH factor activity by forced constitutive expression of Id proteins is closely associated with the inhibition of differentiation in a number of different cell types, including mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, recent literature suggests important roles of HLH proteins in many normal and transformed tissues, including mammary gland. Therefore, future directions for prognosis or therapeutic treatments of breast cancer may be able to exploit bHLH and Id genes as useful molecular targets. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence implicating HLH proteins in the regulation of normal and transformed mammary epithelial cell phenotypes.