scholarly journals Mammary mechanobiology – investigating roles for mechanically activated ion channels in lactation and involution

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. jcs248849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teneale A. Stewart ◽  
Katherine Hughes ◽  
Alexander J. Stevenson ◽  
Natascia Marino ◽  
Adler L. Ju ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe ability of a mother to produce a nutritionally complete neonatal food source has provided a powerful evolutionary advantage to mammals. Milk production by mammary epithelial cells is adaptive, its release is exquisitely timed, and its own glandular stagnation with the permanent cessation of suckling triggers the cell death and tissue remodeling that enables female mammals to nurse successive progeny. Chemical and mechanical signals both play a role in this process. However, despite this duality of input, much remains unknown about the nature and function of mechanical forces in this organ. Here, we characterize the force landscape in the functionally mature gland and the capacity of luminal and basal cells to experience and exert force. We explore molecular instruments for force-sensing, in particular channel-mediated mechanotransduction, revealing increased expression of Piezo1 in mammary tissue in lactation and confirming functional expression in luminal cells. We also reveal, however, that lactation and involution proceed normally in mice with luminal-specific Piezo1 deletion. These findings support a multifaceted system of chemical and mechanical sensing in the mammary gland, and a protective redundancy that ensures continued lactational competence and offspring survival.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teneale A. Stewart ◽  
Katherine Hughes ◽  
Alexander J. Stevenson ◽  
Natascia Marino ◽  
Adler L. Ju ◽  
...  

AbstractA mother’s ability to produce a nutritionally-complete neonatal food source has provided a powerful evolutionary advantage to mammals. Milk production by secretory mammary epithelial cells is adaptive, its release is exquisitely timed and its own glandular stagnation with the permanent cessation of suckling triggers the programmed cell death and tissue remodeling that enables female mammals to nurse successive progeny. Both chemical and mechanical signals control epithelial expansion, function and remodeling. Despite this duality of input, however, the nature and function of mechanical forces in the mammary gland remain unknown. Here, we characterize the mammary force landscape and the capacity of luminal and basal epithelial cells to experience and exert force. We explore the molecular instruments for force-sensing in the mammary gland and the physiological requirement for PIEZO1 in lactation and involution. Our study supports the existence of a multifaceted system of chemical and mechanical sensing in the mammary gland, and a protective redundancy that ensures continued lactational competence and offspring survival.


2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 151-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Galio ◽  
Stéphanie Droineau ◽  
Patrick Yeboah ◽  
Hania Boudiaf ◽  
Stephan Bouet ◽  
...  

The mammary gland undergoes extensive remodeling between the beginning of pregnancy and lactation; this involves cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, all of which are under the control of numerous regulators. To unravel the role played by miRNA, we describe here 47 new ovine miRNA cloned from mammary gland in early pregnancy displaying strong similarities with those already identified in the cow, human, or mouse. A microarray study of miRNA variations in the adult ovine mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation showed that 100 miRNA are regulated according to three principal patterns of expression: a decrease in early pregnancy, a peak at midpregnancy, or an increase throughout late pregnancy and lactation. One miRNA displaying each pattern (miR-21, miR-205, and miR-200b) was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Variations in expression were confirmed for all three miRNA. Using in situ hybridization, we detected both miR-21 and miR-200 in luminal mammary epithelial cells when expressed, whereas miR-205 was expressed in basal cells during the first half of pregnancy and then in luminal cells during the second half. We therefore conclude that miR-21 is strongly expressed in the luminal cells of the normal mammary gland during early pregnancy when extensive cell proliferation occurs. In addition, we show that miR-205 and miR-200 are coexpressed in luminal cells, but only during the second half of pregnancy. These two miRNA may cooperate to maintain epithelial status by repressing an EMT-like program, to achieve and preserve the secretory phenotype of mammary epithelial cells.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 757 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gray ◽  
Y. Strandberg ◽  
L. Donaldson ◽  
R. L. Tellam

Innate immunity plays a vital role in the protection of the bovine mammary gland against mastitis. Until recently, the migration of effector cells such as neutrophils and monocytes into the mammary gland was thought to provide the only defence against invading pathogens. However, mammary epithelial cells may also play an important role in the immune response, contributing to the innate defence of the mammary tissue through secretion of antimicrobial peptides and attraction of circulating immune effector cells. This paper reviews the innate immune pathways in mammary epithelial cells and examines their role in the initiation of an innate immune response to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandr Samocha ◽  
Hanna M. Doh ◽  
Vaishnavi Sitarama ◽  
Quy H. Nguyen ◽  
Oghenekevwe Gbenedio ◽  
...  

SummaryDuring puberty, robust morphogenesis occurs in the mammary gland; stem- and progenitor-cells develop into mature basal- and luminal-cells to form the ductal tree. The receptor signals that govern this process in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are incompletely understood. The EGFR has been implicated and here we focused on EGFR’s downstream pathway component Rasgrp1. We find that Rasgrp1 dampens EGF-triggered signals in MECs. Biochemically and in vitro, Rasgrp1 perturbation results in increased EGFR-Ras-PI3K-AKT and mTORC1-S6 kinase signals, increased EGF-induced proliferation, and aberrant branching-capacity in 3D cultures. However, in vivo, Rasgrp1 perturbation results in delayed ductal tree maturation with shortened branches and reduced cellularity. Rasgrp1-deficient MEC organoids revealed lower frequencies of basal cells, the compartment that incorporates stem cells. Molecularly, EGF effectively counteracts Wnt signal-driven stem cell gene signature in organoids. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the need for fine-tuning of EGFR signals to properly instruct mammary epithelium during puberty.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 5281-5295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihide Ryo ◽  
Yih-Cherng Liou ◽  
Gerburg Wulf ◽  
Masafumi Nakamura ◽  
Sam W. Lee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Oncogenes Neu/HER2/ErbB2 and Ras can induce mammary tumorigenesis via upregulation of cyclin D1. One major regulatory mechanism in these oncogenic signaling pathways is phosphorylation of serines or threonines preceding proline (pSer/Thr-Pro). Interestingly, the pSer/Thr-Pro motifs in proteins exist in two completely distinct cis and trans conformations, whose conversion is catalyzed specifically by the essential prolyl isomerase Pin1. By isomerizing pSer/Thr-Pro bonds, Pin1 can regulate the conformation and function of certain phosphorylated proteins. We have previously shown that Pin1 is overexpressed in breast tumors and positively regulates cyclin D1 by transcriptional activation and posttranslational stabilization. Moreover, in Pin1 knockout mice, mammary epithelial cells fail to undergo massive proliferation during pregnancy, as is the case in cyclin D1 null mice. These results indicate that Pin1 is upregulated in breast cancer and may be involved in mammary tumors. However, the mechanism of Pin1 overexpression in cancer and its significance in cell transformation remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that PIN1 expression is mediated by the transcription factor E2F and enhanced by c-Neu and Ha-Ras via E2F. Furthermore, overexpression of Pin1 not only confers transforming properties on mammary epithelial cells but also enhances the transformed phenotypes of Neu/Ras-transformed mammary epithelial cells. In contrast, inhibition of Pin1 suppresses Neu- and Ras-induced transformed phenotypes, which can be fully rescued by overexpression of a constitutively active cyclin D1 mutant that is refractory to the Pin1 inhibition. Thus, Pin1 is an E2F target gene that is essential for the Neu/Ras-induced transformation of mammary epithelial cells through activation of cyclin D1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-355
Author(s):  
Xinyang Fan ◽  
Lihua Qiu ◽  
Xiaohong Teng ◽  
Yongyun Zhang ◽  
Yongwang Miao

AbstractWe hypothesized that insulin-induced gene 1 (INSIG1) affects milk fat synthesis in buffalo. For this reason, the protein abundance of INSIG1 in the mammary tissue of buffalo during the peak period of lactation and dry-off period was evaluated. The results showed that the expression of INSIG1 at the peak of lactation was lower than that in the dry-off period. To explore the role of INSIG1 in milk fat synthesis, the buffalo mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were isolated and purified from buffalo mammary tissue, and INSIG1 gene were overexpressed and knocked down by constructing the recombinant lentivirus vector of INSIG1 gene and transfecting into BMECs. Results revealed that INSIG1 overexpression decreased the expression of INSIG2, SREBP, PPARG, SCD, GPAM, DGAT2 and AGPAT6, which led to reduction of triglycerides (TAG) content in the cell. In contrast, knockdown of INSIG1 had a positive effect on mRNA expression of the above genes. Overall, the data provide strong support for a key role of INSIG1 in the regulation of milk fat synthesis in BMECs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (16) ◽  
pp. 2108-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung Hyun Yoo ◽  
Sumin Oh ◽  
Keunsoo Kang ◽  
Chaochen Wang ◽  
Gertraud W. Robinson ◽  
...  

Establishment of the mammary luminal cell lineage is controlled primarily by hormones and through specific transcription factors (TFs). Previous studies have linked histone methyltransferases to the differentiation of mammary epithelium, thus opening the possibility of biological significance of counteracting demethylases. We have now demonstrated an essential role for the H3K27me3 demethylase KDM6A in generating a balanced alveolar compartment. Deletion ofKdm6ain the mammary luminal cell lineage led to a paucity of luminal cells and an excessive expansion of basal cells, bothin vivoandin vitro. The inability to form structurally normal ducts and alveoli during pregnancy resulted in lactation failure. Mutant luminal cells did not exhibit their distinctive transcription factor pattern and displayed basal characteristics. The genomic H3K27me3 landscape was unaltered in mutant tissue, and support for a demethylase-independent mechanism came from mice expressing a catalytically inactive KDM6A. Mammary tissue developed normally in these mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments demonstrated KDM6A binding to putative enhancers enriched for key mammary TFs and H3K27ac. This study demonstrated for the first time that the mammary luminal lineage relies on KDM6A to ensure a transcription program leading to differentiated alveoli. Failure to fully implement this program results in structurally and functionally impaired mammary tissue.


1989 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Winder ◽  
A. Turvey ◽  
I. A. Forsyth

ABSTRACT Ovine mammary epithelial cell clumps (30–90 μm) were plated onto attached gels of rat tail collagen in serum-free medium. Synthesis of DNA by these cultures could be stimulated by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with a median effective dose of 5 μg/l, irrespective of stage of pregnancy. The time-course of response, however, was significantly slower in cells prepared from mammary tissue of non-pregnant and early pregnant sheep compared with sheep later in pregnancy. IGF-II had approximately 10% of the potency of IGF-I in stimulating DNA synthesis. Insulin acted over a wide concentration range and produced a maximum rate of stimulation not significantly different from that produced by IGF-I. These results are consistent with actions through the type-I IGF receptor although insulin may also act through its own receptor, possibly stimulating local IGF-I production. It is concluded that IGF-I is an important mitogen for ovine mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 319–326


PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e47876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia M. Rosenfield ◽  
Emma T. Bowden ◽  
Shani Cohen-Missner ◽  
Krissa A. Gibby ◽  
Virginie Ory ◽  
...  

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