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Myoepithelial Cells in the Control of Mammary Development and Tumorigenesis: Data From Genetically Modified Mice

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia volume 10, pages 211–219 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Until recently, myoepithelial cells—the second major cell population in the mammary epithelium—were not considered to play an important role in the morphogenetic events during gland development. Mouse mutants with changes in the gene expression pattern characteristic of the basal myoepithelial cell layer have been generated and used to show that these cells influence the proliferation, survival and differentiation of luminal cells, modulate stromal–epithelial interactions and actively participate in mammary morphogenesis. Various cellular and molecular mechanisms may underlie the observed phenotypes. These include an unbalanced expression of matrix degrading metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, leading to changes in the composition and organization of the (extracellular matrix) ECM, the production of soluble growth factors affecting stromal and epithelial cell growth and differentiation and direct signaling through cell–cell contacts between the myoepithelial and luminal cell layers.

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Abbreviations

CEBP-β:

CCAAT enhancer-binding protein β

COX-2:

cyclooxygenase-2

ECM:

extracellular matrix

EphB4:

ephrin receptor B4

K5:

K8, K14, K18, cytokeratin 5, 8, 14 and 18, respectively

LAP:

liver-enriched transcriptional activating protein

Lef:

lymphocyte enhancer factor

LIP:

liver-enriched transcriptional inhibitory protein

MMP:

matrix metalloproteinase

MMTV:

mouse mammary tumor virus

PTHrP:

parathyroid hormone-related protein

Tcf:

T-cell factor

TEB:

terminal end bud

TIMP:

tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases

WAP:

whey acidic protein

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institut Curie, CNRS UMR144, 26 rue d’Ulm, 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France

    Marisa M. Faraldo, Jérôme Teulière, Marie-Ange Deugnier, Ilaria Taddei-De La Hosseraye, Jean Paul Thiery & Marina A. Glukhova

Authors
  1. Marisa M. Faraldo
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  2. Jérôme Teulière
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  3. Marie-Ange Deugnier
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  4. Ilaria Taddei-De La Hosseraye
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  5. Jean Paul Thiery
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  6. Marina A. Glukhova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina A. Glukhova.

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Faraldo, M.M., Teulière, J., Deugnier, MA. et al. Myoepithelial Cells in the Control of Mammary Development and Tumorigenesis: Data From Genetically Modified Mice. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 10, 211–219 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-005-9582-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-005-9582-8

Key Words

  • morphogenesis
  • myoepithelial cell
  • basal keratins
  • basal-type carcinoma
  • transgenic mouse