The LIM domain protein Lmo4 is highly expressed in proliferating mouse epithelial tissues

LMO4 belongs to the LIM-only family of zinc finger proteins that have been implicated in oncogenesis. The LMO4 gene is overexpressed in breast cancer and oral cavity carcinomas, and high levels of this protein inhibit mammary epithelial differentiation. Targeted deletion of Lmo4 in mice leads to complex phenotypic abnormalities and perinatal lethality. To further understand the role of LMO4, we have characterized Lmo4 expression in adult mouse tissues by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal anti-Lmo4 antibodies. Lmo4 was highly expressed within specific cell types in diverse tissues. Expression was prevalent in epithelial-derived tissues, including the mammary gland, tongue, skin, small intestine, lung, and brain. High levels of Lmo4 were frequently observed in proliferating cells, such as the crypt cells of the small intestine and the basal cells of the skin and tongue. Lmo4 was highly expressed in the proliferative cap cell layer of the terminal end buds in the peripubertal mammary gland and in the lobuloalveolar units during pregnancy. The expression profile of Lmo4 suggests that this cofactor is an important regulator of epithelial proliferation and has implications for its role in the pathogenicity of cancer.