Featured
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Article |
Identity and dynamics of mammary stem cells during branching morphogenesis
The formation of the branched epithelial network of the mouse mammary gland during puberty is driven by a heterogeneous population of stem cells at the terminal end buds of the epithelium.
- Colinda L. G. J. Scheele
- , Edouard Hannezo
- & Jacco van Rheenen
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Letter |
The Hippo kinases LATS1 and 2 control human breast cell fate via crosstalk with ERα
Ablation of the large tumour suppressor kinases 1 and 2 promotes a luminal breast cell phenotype through stabilization of oestrogen receptor-α, thereby changing human breast cell fate.
- Adrian Britschgi
- , Stephan Duss
- & Mohamed Bentires-Alj
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Letter |
Barcoding reveals complex clonal dynamics of de novo transformed human mammary cells
The first formal evidence of the shared and independent ability of basal cells and luminal pro-genitors isolated from normal human mammary tissue and transduced with a single oncogene to initiate tumorigeneses when introduced into mice.
- Long V. Nguyen
- , Davide Pellacani
- & Connie J. Eaves
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Letter |
Distinct EMT programs control normal mammary stem cells and tumour-initiating cells
This study finds that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition program, which is common to both mammary gland reconstituting stem cells and mammary tumour-initiating cells, is differentially regulated by two distinct EMT factors, Slug and Snail; the findings illustrate that although they appear similar, normal tissue stem cells and tumour-initiating cells are controlled by distinct regulatory processes.
- Xin Ye
- , Wai Leong Tam
- & Robert A. Weinberg
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Letter |
Reactivation of multipotency by oncogenic PIK3CA induces breast tumour heterogeneity
PIK3CA mutations are associated with distinct types of human breast cancers but the cellular origin and mechanisms responsible for this heterogeneity were unclear; here, using a genetic approach in mice, PIK3CA mutations are shown to activate a genetic program directing multiple cell fates in normally lineage-restricted cell types.
- Alexandra Van Keymeulen
- , May Yin Lee
- & Cédric Blanpain
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Letter |
PIK3CAH1047R induces multipotency and multi-lineage mammary tumours
PIK3CA mutations are associated with distinct types of human breast cancers but the cellular origin and mechanisms responsible for this heterogeneity were unclear; here, using a genetic approach in mice, the PIK3CAH1047R mutation is shown to induce multipotent stem-like cells and mammary tumours with different levels of malignancy depending on the cell of origin.
- Shany Koren
- , Linsey Reavie
- & Mohamed Bentires-Alj
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Letter |
Identification of multipotent mammary stem cells by protein C receptor expression
Using transplantation and lineage-tracing strategies, protein C receptor is identified as a marker of mammary stem cells in mice, with potential implications for understanding the initiation of breast cancer.
- Daisong Wang
- , Cheguo Cai
- & Yi Arial Zeng
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Article |
In situ identification of bipotent stem cells in the mammary gland
Through the use of a novel three-dimensional imaging technique, used in conjunction with a multicolour reporter that allows lineage tracing and cell tracking of entire mammary ducts in vivo, bipotent stem cells are shown to have a central role in both puberty and long-term maintenance; in addition, long-lived luminal progenitor cells with a prominent role in ductal expansion are identified.
- Anne C. Rios
- , Nai Yang Fu
- & Jane E. Visvader
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Article |
Distinct stem cells contribute to mammary gland development and maintenance
- Alexandra Van Keymeulen
- , Ana Sofia Rocha
- & Cédric Blanpain
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Letter |
Progesterone induces adult mammary stem cell expansion
Reproductive history influences breast cancer risk but the cellular mechanisms are unclear. Here it is shown that ovarian hormones regulate the size of the mammary stem cell pool in mice. The size of this pool increases when progesterone levels increase during the reproductive cycle. Progesterone probably regulates stem cell numbers through a paracrine mechanism involving induction of RANKL and Wnt in luminal cells.
- Purna A. Joshi
- , Hartland W. Jackson
- & Rama Khokha
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News & Views |
Cues from steroid hormones
The steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone have a role in sickness and in health. In breast tissue, both roles probably work through a single mechanism: controlling the number and activity of mammary stem cells.
- John P. Lydon
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Letter |
Control of mammary stem cell function by steroid hormone signalling
The ovarian hormones oestrogen and progesterone increase breast cancer risk but the cellular mechanisms are unclear. Here it is shown that the size of the mammary stem cell pool in mice is regulated by steroid hormone signalling, although these cells lack the receptors for oestrogen and progesterone. The augmented pool could lead to clonal expansion of a mutated cell, possibly accounting for the increased incidence of breast cancer associated with pregnancy.
- Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat
- , François Vaillant
- & Jane E. Visvader