How sleeping mammary stem cells are awakened in puberty

How sleeping mammary stem cells are awakened in puberty
High resolution imaging of ducts in the mammary gland was critical for the discovery of how their growth is triggered in puberty. Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have discovered how the growth of milk-producing mammary glands is triggered during puberty.Sleeping stem cells in the mammary gland are awoken by a protein dubbed FoxP1, according to the research that was published today in the journal Developmental Cell.

The research expands our knowledge of how the mammary gland—a component of the human breast—develops from stem , underpinning a better understanding of how defects in this process lead to breast cancer. The research was led by Dr. Nai Yang Fu, Professor Jane Visvader and Professor Geoff Lindeman who is also a medical oncologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, in collaboration with Professor Gordon Smyth and his bioinformatics team.

Waking up stem cells

Stem cells in the mammary gland exist in a largely dormant or 'sleeping' state throughout life. In puberty, these stem cells need to be 'woken up' to drive the rapid expansion of the mammary , said Professor Visvader.

How sleeping mammary stem cells are awakened in puberty
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers demonstrated that the gene FoxP1 is essential for the growth of mammary glands (dark purple) Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia

"The are ready for a signal to start dividing," she said. "We discovered that a gene called FoxP1 is an essential part of this signal in puberty and the adult."

FoxP1 switches off the production of other proteins within cells—by repressing their genes.

"We discovered that FoxP1 switches off the production of one of the key proteins that keep mammary stem cells asleep. As the level of this protein drops, the stem cells wake up and begin to divide, driving growth," Dr. Fu said.

The importance of team work

The project relied on collaboration between scientists with diverse skills, said Professor Visvader.

"This project brought together expertise in cell biology, developmental biology, bioinformatics and imaging to solve the question of how mammary are awoken in puberty and adult breast tissue.

"We're still looking for the precise connections linking female hormones and FoxP1, but we are one step closer to understanding the detailed process of breast development. This is also helping us to connect faulty cells that contribute to breast development with the development of cancer," she said.

More information: Developmental Cell (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.001

Journal information: Developmental Cell

Citation: How sleeping mammary stem cells are awakened in puberty (2018, October 25) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2018-10-mammary-stem-cells-awakened-puberty.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Gene silencing critical for normal breast development

85 shares

Feedback to editors