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Regulation of the AKT/P53 signaling pathway by translated control tumor protein inhibits apoptosis and promotes hyperplasia of the mammary glands
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  • Published: 10 March 2026

Regulation of the AKT/P53 signaling pathway by translated control tumor protein inhibits apoptosis and promotes hyperplasia of the mammary glands

  • Mu-Yuan Ma1,
  • Sheng Wang2,
  • Xue-Mei Jin3,
  • Yue Shen2,
  • Yi-Min Cai2,
  • Bin Yu4,
  • Huan-Huan Du5,
  • Liu Jia6,
  • Lei Ma2 &
  • …
  • Jun-Fei Zhang2,7 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Cancer
  • Cell biology
  • Diseases
  • Molecular biology
  • Oncology

Abstract

This study aims to explore the mechanism by which the Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) promotes hyperplasia of the mammary glands (HMG). In this study, the TCTP (Tpt1flox/flox) and TCTP (Tpt1KI/KI) gene mice were respectively mated with MMTV-Cre to obtain mice withmammary glands-specific TCTP knockout (TCTP cKO) and overexpression (TCTP KI). Prepare the HMG animal model by using estrogen combined with progesterone. After the establishment of the TCTP cKO and TCTP KI mouse models, they are uniformly referred to as HMG cKO and HMG KI. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and hormone and receptor expression levels were detected. Detect the levels of TCTP, P53, p-AKT, as well as the indicators related to cell apoptosis and cell cycle in the breast tissues of each group. The H&E results showed that compared with the HMG group, the ductal cavity dilation and the number of milk glands in the breast tissue of the HMG cKO group were significantly reduced, while the HMG KI group exhibited obvious mammary gland hyperplasia. The results showed that compared with the HMG group, the expression levels of Ki67, E2, FSH, LH, ERα, PR, TCTP, p-AKT, p-BAD, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6 in the mammary tissues of the HMG cKO group were significantly decreased, while the expression levels of PROG, ERβ, P53, Bax and P27 were significantly increased. In the HMG KI group, the opposite results were observed. In our research, it was confirmed that TCTP inhibits cell apoptosis and promotes cell cycle progression by regulating the AKT/P53 signaling pathway, leading to abnormal hyperplasia of the mammary glands. In HMG, by regulating the expression level of TCTP, the effect of treating HMG can be achieved.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author (Jun-Fei Zhang E-mail: zhangjunfei007@126.com) on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

TCTP:

Translationally controlled tumor protein

HMG:

Hyperplasia of the mammary glands

H&E:

Directory of open access journals

E2:

Estradiol

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

PROG:

Progesterone

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

mIHC:

Multiplex Immunofluorescence

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ningxia Keji Biological Co., Ltd., for providing technical support in the histopathological experiments.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82205116; 82160958), the Natural Science Fund of Inner Mongolia (2021MS08077; 2021BS08022).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Second Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750000, Ningxia, China

    Mu-Yuan Ma

  2. Department of Emergency Medical, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, 750000, Ningxia, China

    Sheng Wang, Yue Shen, Yi-Min Cai, Lei Ma & Jun-Fei Zhang

  3. Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, 133000, Jilin Province, China

    Xue-Mei Jin

  4. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 028000, China

    Bin Yu

  5. Public Health College of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

    Huan-Huan Du

  6. Medical Experimental Center, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, 750000, Ningxia, China

    Liu Jia

  7. Ningxia Key Laboratory of Clinical and Pathogenic Microbiology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 South Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, 750000, Ningxia, China

    Jun-Fei Zhang

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Contributions

ZJF, ML, MMY, LJ, WS and JXM designed the study. SY, CYM, YB and DHH performed multiple experiments and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Liu Jia, Lei Ma or Jun-Fei Zhang.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

All animal procedures were carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Protection Committee of Ningxia Medical University, and all experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (KYLL-2022-0094).

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Ma, MY., Wang, S., Jin, XM. et al. Regulation of the AKT/P53 signaling pathway by translated control tumor protein inhibits apoptosis and promotes hyperplasia of the mammary glands. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43565-x

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  • Received: 28 November 2025

  • Accepted: 05 March 2026

  • Published: 10 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43565-x

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Keywords

  • Hyperplasia of the mammary glands
  • Translationally controlled tumor protein
  • P53 protein
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