Analysis of the transcriptomic profile of WT mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF WT) and Nf2-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF Nf2 KO) cell lines

Merlin is the tumor suppressor protein encoded by the NF2 gene. The expression of Merlin is remarkably decreased in metastatic breast cancer tissues irrespective of the breast cancer subtype. In order to ascribe clinical relevance, we re-capitulated the loss of Merlin in breast cancer cells. Merlin deficiency elicited a markedly invasive phenotype. In order to overcome the challenge of embryonic lethality of a total Nf2-knockout, we generated a unique mammary-specific Nf2-knockout mouse mammary tumor model. Both, the Nf2-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) and Merlin-deficient breast tumor cells displayed a robust invasive phenotype. Transcriptomic assessment of Nf2-knockout MEFs revealed notable alterations in glutathione transferase and antioxidant networks indicating a role for Merlin in redox biology. This programmatic alteration resonated with the pathways that emerged from breast tumor cells engineered for Merlin deficiency. Overall design: Examination of total RNA from 3 replicates of MEF WT (control) and 3 replicates of MEF Nf2 KO