MENIN regulates MAFA expression

The protein MENIN is the product of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN1) gene. Altered MENIN expression is one of the few events that are clearly associated with foregut neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), as classical oncogenes or tumour suppressors are not involved. One of the current challenges is to understand how alteration of MENIN expression contributes to the development of these tumours. Hamze and colleagues hypothesised that MENIN might regulate factors maintaining endocrine-differentiated functions. Choosing the insulinoma model, a paradigmatic example of well-differentiated pancreatic NETs, they studied whether MENIN interferes with the expression of v-MAF musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A (MAFA), a master glucose-dependent transcription factor in differentiated β-cells. Their findings unveil a previously unsuspected MENIN/MAFA connection regarding control of the β-cell differentiation/proliferation balance, which could contribute to tumorigenesis.

Read the full article at Hamze et al. (2013) Endocrine-Related Cancer 20; 833–848; DOI: 10.1530/ERC-13-0164