Constitutive overexpression of Id-1 in mammary glands of transgenic mice results in precocious and increased formation of terminal end buds, enhanced alveologenesis, delayed involution

Inhibitor of differentiation-1 (Id-1) has been shown to play an essential role in cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and anti-apoptosis. However, the effect of Id-1 in mammary gland development remains unknown. Here, we generated MMTV-Id-1 transgenic mice to study the role of Id-1 in mammary gland development. In virgin mice, Id-1 overexpression led to precocious development and delayed regression of terminal end buds (TEBs) compared with wild-type mice. The number of BrdU-positive cells and the expression of Wnt signaling molecules, β-catenin and cyclin D1, which regulate ductal extension and TEB formation in virgin, were statistically higher in Id-1 transgenic mice than in wild-type mice. Id-1 also had an effect on the formation and proliferation of lobuloalveolar structures during early and mid-pregnancy. Id-1 transgenic mice had more lobulated and prominent alveolar budding than wild-type mice and had significantly greater counts of lobuloalveolar structures in early pregnancy. The expression of BrdU, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 was also predominantly increased in Id-1 transgenic mice. Moreover, Id-1 transgenic mice showed delayed involution. Id-1 regulated the expression levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax, and resulted in delay of apoptotic peak during postlactational involution. We also found that Id-1 was able to modulate expression of the regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling such as phospho-Akt, BMP2, FGF3, and RAR-β in tubuloalveolar development of mammary glands. Taken together, our results suggest that Id-1 plays a pivotal role in mammary gland development through Wnt signaling-mediated acceleration of precocity and alveologenesis and Bcl-2 family members-mediated delay of involution.