Studying development of disease through temporally controlled gene expression in the salivary gland

Multistep tumorigenesis proceeds through activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Initiating oncoproteins induce secondary changes that maintain transformation in the absence of original stimuli. Time-dependent reversal of SV40 T antigen (TAg)-induced hyperplasia was studied using temporally controlled gene expression. Targeting TAg expression to the submandibular salivary gland of transgenic mice produces focal hyperplasias at age two weeks, which extend through large areas of the gland by four months. At twelve months, fibrosis and tumor foci accompany hyperplasia. Hyperplasia reverses when TAg expression in discontinued at four months but not at seven months. Secondary changes that maintain transformation appear to be time dependent. The system can be used to identify genetic events resulting in phenotypic reversal at four months and to expose factors preventing its occurrence at seven months. Expression of other proteins can be targeted to the salivary gland, and temporally controlled gene deletions can also be made using this system.