Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Real-time Imaging of Myeloid Cells Dynamics in ApcMin/+ Intestinal Tumors by Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy
Published on: October 6, 2014
Effect of Recql5 deficiency on the intestinal tumor susceptibility of Apc(min) mice
Yiduo Hu1, Xincheng Lu, Guangbin Luo
1Department of Genetics, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Aim:
To investigate whether Recql5, a DNA helicase that plays an important role in the maintenance of genome integrity, is a tumor suppressor in the gastrointestinal tract in mice.
Methods:
We generated cohorts of both Recql5-proficient and Recql5-deficient Apc(min/+) mice and compared the tumor susceptibility in their gastrointestinal tracts.
Results:
Recql5 deficiency in Apc(min/+) mice resulted in a significant increase in the tumor incidence in both the colon (P = 0.0162) and the small intestine (P < 0.01). These findings have provided the first genetic evidence for a tumor suppression role of Recql5 in the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Importantly, since mouse Recql5 and human RECQL5 are highly conserved, these findings also suggest that RECQL5 may be a tumor suppressor for human colon cancer.
Conclusion:
Recql5 has a tumor suppression role in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.
Insights
Recql5 deficiency significantly increases gastrointestinal tumors in mice. This DNA helicase acts as a tumor suppressor in the mouse gut, suggesting a similar role for human RECQL5 in colon cancer.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Recql5 is a DNA helicase crucial for maintaining genome stability.
- Its role as a tumor suppressor in the gastrointestinal tract is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tumor suppressive function of Recql5 in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.
- To determine if Recql5 deficiency influences tumor susceptibility in a mouse model of intestinal cancer.
Main Methods:
- Generated Recql5-proficient and Recql5-deficient Apc(min/+) mice.
- Compared tumor incidence in the gastrointestinal tracts of these mouse cohorts.
Main Results:
- Recql5 deficiency led to a significant increase in tumor incidence in both the colon and small intestine of Apc(min/+) mice.
- These results provide the first genetic evidence for Recql5's tumor suppressor role in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.
- Given the high conservation between mouse Recql5 and human RECQL5, these findings suggest a potential tumor suppressor role for RECQL5 in human colon cancer.
Conclusions:
- Recql5 functions as a tumor suppressor in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.
- This study highlights the importance of Recql5 in preventing gastrointestinal cancers.
