Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution

Post-lactational involution of the mammary gland is initiated within days of weaning. Clearing of cells occurs by apoptosis of the milk-secreting luminal cells in the alveoli and through stromal tissue remodeling to return the gland almost completely to its pre-pregnant state. The pathways that spec...

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Main Authors: Thomas, E., Zeps, Nikolajs, Rigby, P., Hartmann, P.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4535
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author Thomas, E.
Zeps, Nikolajs
Rigby, P.
Hartmann, P.
author_facet Thomas, E.
Zeps, Nikolajs
Rigby, P.
Hartmann, P.
author_sort Thomas, E.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Post-lactational involution of the mammary gland is initiated within days of weaning. Clearing of cells occurs by apoptosis of the milk-secreting luminal cells in the alveoli and through stromal tissue remodeling to return the gland almost completely to its pre-pregnant state. The pathways that specifically target involution of the luminal cells in the alveoli but not the basal and ductal cells are poorly understood. In this study we show in cultured human mammary alveolar structures that the involution process is initiated by fresh media withdrawal, and is characterized by cellular oxidative stress, expression of activated macrophage marker CD68 and finally complete clearing of the luminal but not basal epithelial layer. This process can be simulated by ectopic addition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultures without media withdrawal. Cells isolated from post-involution alveoli were enriched for the CD49f(+) mammary stem cell (MaSC) phenotype and were able to reproduce a complete alveolar structure in subcultures without any significant loss in viability. We propose that the ROS produced by accumulated milk breakdown post-weaning may be the mechanism underlying the selective involution of secretory alveolar luminal cells, and that our culture model represents an useful means to investigate this and other mechanisms further.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-45352017-09-13T14:39:15Z Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution Thomas, E. Zeps, Nikolajs Rigby, P. Hartmann, P. Post-lactational involution of the mammary gland is initiated within days of weaning. Clearing of cells occurs by apoptosis of the milk-secreting luminal cells in the alveoli and through stromal tissue remodeling to return the gland almost completely to its pre-pregnant state. The pathways that specifically target involution of the luminal cells in the alveoli but not the basal and ductal cells are poorly understood. In this study we show in cultured human mammary alveolar structures that the involution process is initiated by fresh media withdrawal, and is characterized by cellular oxidative stress, expression of activated macrophage marker CD68 and finally complete clearing of the luminal but not basal epithelial layer. This process can be simulated by ectopic addition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultures without media withdrawal. Cells isolated from post-involution alveoli were enriched for the CD49f(+) mammary stem cell (MaSC) phenotype and were able to reproduce a complete alveolar structure in subcultures without any significant loss in viability. We propose that the ROS produced by accumulated milk breakdown post-weaning may be the mechanism underlying the selective involution of secretory alveolar luminal cells, and that our culture model represents an useful means to investigate this and other mechanisms further. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4535 10.1038/cddis.2011.69 unknown
spellingShingle Thomas, E.
Zeps, Nikolajs
Rigby, P.
Hartmann, P.
Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title_full Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title_fullStr Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title_full_unstemmed Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title_short Reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: A potential regulator of involution
title_sort reactive oxygen species initiate luminal but not basal cell death in cultured human mammary alveolar structures: a potential regulator of involution
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4535