Apoptosis in mammary gland and cancer.

2000 ◽  
pp. 257-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kumar ◽  
R K Vadlamudi ◽  
L Adam
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Mammary Gland Development ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Physiological Mechanism ◽  
Cell Loss ◽  
Normal Mammary Gland ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Gland Development

Homeostasis in normal tissue is regulated by a balance between proliferative activity and cell loss by apoptosis. Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism of cell loss that depends on both pre-existing proteins and de novo protein synthesis, and the process of apoptosis is integral to normal mammary gland development and in many diseases, including breast cancer. The mammary gland is one of the few organ systems in mammals that completes its morphologic development postnatally during two discrete physiologic states, puberty and pregnancy. The susceptibility of the mammary gland to tumorigenesis is influenced by its normal development, particularly during stages of puberty and pregnancy that are characterized by marked alterations in breast cell proliferation and differentiation. Numerous epidemiologic studies have suggested that specific details in the development of the mammary gland play a critical role in breast cancer risk. Mammary gland development is characterized by dynamic changes in the expression profiles of Bcl-2 family members. The expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in breast cancer is also influenced by estradiol and by progestin. Since the ratio of proapoptotic to antiapoptotic proteins determines apoptosis or cell survival, hormone levels may have important implications in the therapeutic prevention of breast cancer.

scholarly journals Early Steps of Mammary Stem Cell Transformation by Exogenous Signals; Effects of Bisphenol Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Jung ◽  
Veronique Maguer-Satta ◽  
Boris Guyot
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ◽  
Mammary Gland Development ◽  
Cell Transformation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Normal Mammary Gland ◽  
Gland Development

Estrogens are major regulators of the mammary gland development, notably during puberty, via estrogen receptor (ER) activation, leading to the proliferation and differentiation of mammary cells. In addition to estrogens, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) family is involved in breast stem cell/progenitor commitment. However, these two pathways that synergistically contribute to the biology of the normal mammary gland have also been described to initiate and/or promote breast cancer development. In addition to intrinsic events, lifestyle habits and exposure to environmental cues are key risk factors for cancer in general, and especially for breast cancer. In the latter case, bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-mimetic compound, is a critical pollutant both in terms of the quantities released in our environment and of its known and speculated effects on mammary gland biology. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the actions of BMPs and estrogens in both normal mammary gland development and breast cancer initiation, dissemination, and resistance to treatment, focusing on the dysregulations of these processes by BPA but also by other bisphenols, including BPS and BPF, initially considered as safer alternatives to BPA.

scholarly journals Normal mammary gland development after MMTV-Cre mediated conditional PAK4 gene depletion

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Rabieifar ◽  
Ting Zhuang ◽  
Tânia D. F. Costa ◽  
Miao Zhao ◽  
Staffan Strömblad
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Mammary Gland Development ◽  
Mammary Epithelium ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Normal Mammary Gland ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Gland Development

Abstract p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases functioning as downstream effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. Members of the PAK family are overexpressed in human breast cancer, but their role in mammary gland development is not fully explored. Here we examined the functional role of PAK4 in mammary gland development by creating a mouse model of MMTV-Cre driven conditional PAK4 gene depletion in the mammary gland. The PAK4 conditional knock-out mice were born healthy, with no observed developmental deficits. Mammary gland whole-mounts revealed no defects in ductal formation or elongation of the mammary tree through the fat pad. PAK4 gene depletion also did not alter proliferation and invasion of the mammary epithelium in young virgin mice. Moreover, adult mice gave birth to healthy pups with normal body weight upon weaning. This implies that MMTV-Cre induced gene depletion of PAK4 in mice does not impair normal mammary gland development and thereby provides an in vivo model that can be explored for examination of the potential function of PAK4 in breast cancer.

scholarly journals Macrophages: Regulators of the Inflammatory Microenvironment during Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Brady ◽  
Pavlina Chuntova ◽  
Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Mammary Gland Development ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Normal Mammary Gland ◽  
Inflammatory Microenvironment ◽  
Mediators Of Inflammation ◽  
Gland Development

Macrophages are critical mediators of inflammation and important regulators of developmental processes. As a key phagocytic cell type, macrophages evolved as part of the innate immune system to engulf and process cell debris and pathogens. Macrophages produce factors that act directly on their microenvironment and also bridge innate immune responses to the adaptive immune system. Resident macrophages are important for acting as sensors for tissue damage and maintaining tissue homeostasis. It is now well-established that macrophages are an integral component of the breast tumor microenvironment, where they contribute to tumor growth and progression, likely through many of the mechanisms that are utilized during normal wound healing responses. Because macrophages contribute to normal mammary gland development and breast cancer growth and progression, this review will discuss both resident mammary gland macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages with an emphasis on describing how macrophages interact with their surrounding environment during normal development and in the context of cancer.

scholarly journals Normal mammary gland development after MMTV-Cre mediated conditional PAK4 gene depletion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Rabieifar ◽  
Ting Zhuang ◽  
Tânia D. F. Costa ◽  
Miao Zhao ◽  
Staffan Strömblad
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Mammary Gland Development ◽  
Mammary Epithelium ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Normal Mammary Gland ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Gland Development

Abstractp21-activated protein kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases functioning as downstream effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. Members of the PAK family are overexpressed in human breast cancer, but their role in mammary gland development is not fully explored. Here we examined the functional role of PAK4 in mammary gland development by creating a mouse model of MMTV-Cre driven conditional PAK4 gene depletion in the mammary gland. The PAK4 conditional knock-out mice were born healthy with no observed developmental deficits. Mammary gland whole-mounts revealed no defects in ductal formation or elongation of the mammary tree through the fat pad. PAK4 gene depletion also did not alter proliferation and invasion of the mammary epithelium in young virgin mice. Moreover, adult mice gave birth to healthy pups with normal body weight upon weaning. This implies that MMTV-Cre induced gene depletion of PAK4 in mice does not impair normal mammary gland development and thereby provides an in vivo model for examination of the potential function of PAK4 in breast cancer.

scholarly journals Mammary gland adipocytes in lactation cycle, obesity and breast cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Colleluori ◽  
Jessica Perugini ◽  
Giorgio Barbatelli ◽  
Saverio Cinti
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Exocrine Gland ◽  
Plastic Properties ◽  
Lactation Cycle ◽  
Gland Development

AbstractThe mammary gland (MG) is an exocrine gland present in female mammals responsible for the production and secretion of milk during the process of lactation. It is mainly composed by epithelial cells and adipocytes. Among the features that make the MG unique there are 1) its highly plastic properties displayed during pregnancy, lactation and involution (all steps belonging to the lactation cycle) and 2) its requirement to grow in close association with adipocytes which are absolutely necessary to ensure MG’s proper development at puberty and remodeling during the lactation cycle. Although MG adipocytes play such a critical role for the gland development, most of the studies have focused on its epithelial component only, leaving the role of the neighboring adipocytes largely unexplored. In this review we aim to describe evidences regarding MG’s adipocytes role and properties in physiologic conditions (gland development and lactation cycle), obesity and breast cancer, emphasizing the existing gaps in the literature which deserve further investigation.

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