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Intrauterine Breast Development and the Mammary Myoepithelial Lineage

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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As their name implies, the myoepithelial cells found at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface of the human mammary gland disclose features suggestive of a dual epithelial-like and muscle-like differentiation, i.e. they co-express various keratins and vimentin intermediate filaments, as well as smooth muscle-related antigens. This article provides an overview of the literature on intrauterine breast development with special emphasis on the myoepithelial component of the fetal human mammary gland epithelium. It discusses original and recently published immunohistochemical data on myoepithelial precursors and reasserts the relevance of developmental, morphological fetal tissue-based studies to the understanding and the clinical management of adult diseases.

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Abbreviations

αSMA:

alpha-smooth muscle actin

ECM:

extracellular matrix

EMA:

epithelial membrane antigen

GA:

gestational age

wk:

week

KRT14:

keratin 14

KRT17:

keratin 17

KRT19:

keratin 19

MMEC:

mammary myoepithelial cell

PB:

primary bud

PS:

projection stalk

PE:

projection end

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  1. Pathology Department, Sainte-Justine’s Hospital, 3175, Chemin de la Cote Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1C5

    Francine Jolicoeur

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Correspondence to Francine Jolicoeur.

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Jolicoeur, F. Intrauterine Breast Development and the Mammary Myoepithelial Lineage. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 10, 199–210 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-005-9581-9

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