Post-lactational mammary gland regression: molecular basis and implications for breast cancer

Author:

Watson Christine J.

Abstract

During pregnancy, there is a massive increase in the number of luminal epithelial cells in the breast, which are destined to become the milk factories after birth. These cells are no longer required when the young are weaned, and are removed in a carefully orchestrated event called involution. In this process, the secretory epithelial cells die and are replaced by adipocytes, which redifferentiate as the epithelium is removed. It is essential that the gland is properly remodelled to a pre-pregnant state so that successful lactation can occur following a subsequent pregnancy. Furthermore, failure to remove unnecessary lactational alveoli during weaning could result in inflammation and tissue damage. Recently, it has been shown that components in the fatty stroma in involuting breast can promote metastasis. Thus, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate involution, how these can fail, the consequences of the remodelling process, and how this knowledge can inform us about breast cancer. In this review, I discuss the roles of the JAK–STAT, NF-κB and other signalling pathways in the regulation of apoptosis and tissue remodelling during involution.

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Subject

Molecular Biology,Molecular Medicine

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3