SV40 rodent tumour models as paradigms of human disease: transgenic mouse models

Transgenic mice have been used to study the process of Simian Virus 40 (SV40)-induced oncogenesis in a broad range of tissues including mammary gland, salivary gland, pancreas, prostate, liver, lung, kidney, intestine, brain, choroid plexus, lens of the eye, bone, smooth muscle and cartilage. The focus of these studies rests primarily on the action of the major transforming viral oncoprotein, the large T antigen (TAg). In most transgenic studies, the DNA coding sequence of the SV40 TAg is placed under the control of a tissue specific promoter which is responsible for directing TAg expression to the selected organ. This review focuses on the process of viral oncogenesis in the mammary and salivary glands. The role of TAg in the induction of apoptosis in the mammary gland, and the time-dependency of TAg induced hyperplastic changes in the salivary gland, are emphasized.