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Mammary gland stem cells: More puzzles than explanations

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Abstract

Mammary gland stem cells (MaSC) have not been identified in spite of extensive research spanning over several decades. This has been primarily due to the complexity of mammary gland structure and its development, cell heterogeneity in the mammary gland and the insufficient knowledge about MaSC markers. At present, Lin–CD29hiCD49fhiCD24+/modSca-1– cells of the mammary gland have been reported to be enriched with MaSCs. We suggest that the inclusion of stem cell markers like Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and the mammary gland differentiation marker BRCA-1 may further narrow down the search for MaSCs. In addition, we have discussed some of the other unresolved puzzles on the mammary gland stem cells, such as their similarities and/or differences with mammary cancer stem cells, use of milk as source of mammary stem cells and the possibility of in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into functional mammary gland structures in this review. Nevertheless, it is the lack of identity for a MaSC that is curtailing the advances in some of the above and other related areas.

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Abbreviations

CK:

cytokeratin

EBs:

embryoid bodies

ER:

estrogen receptor

ES cells:

embryonic stem cells

LRC:

label retaining cells

MaSCs:

mammarygland stem cells

PI­MEC:

parity induced mammary epithelial stem cells

Sca­1:

stem cell antigen ­1

SLC:

small light cells

TEBs:

terminal end buds

ULLC:

undifferentiated large light cells

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Julie Sharp for her constructive criticism to this review.

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  1. CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Habsiguda, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    Suneesh Kaimala, Swathi Bisana & Satish Kumar

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  1. Suneesh Kaimala
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  2. Swathi Bisana
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  3. Satish Kumar
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Correspondence to Satish Kumar.

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Corresponding editor: Durgadas P Kasbekar

[Kaimala S, Bisana S and Kumar S 2012 Mammary gland stem cells: More puzzles than explanations. J. Biosci. 37 1–10] DOI 10.1007/s12038-012-9200-z

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Kaimala, S., Bisana, S. & Kumar, S. Mammary gland stem cells: More puzzles than explanations. J Biosci 37, 349–358 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-012-9200-z

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