Wnt signaling can substitute for estrogen to induce division of ERalpha-positive cells in a mouse mammary tumor model.

ABSTRACT: The interaction of estrogen with the estrogen receptor (ER, principally ERalpha) induces growth of human breast tumor cells. In contrast, ERalpha-positive cells have been described as non-dividing cells in normal breast (though estrogen stimulation of ERalpha cells directs the division of neighboring cells). However, there is a small sub-population of cells in normal mammary tissue that are ERalpha-positive, that can divide, and therefore share this property with human breast tumor cells. In order to investigate their pattern of growth regulation, we measured the fraction of dividing ERalpha(+) cells during normal growth and compared that to glands stimulated by oncogenic Wnt effectors. First, we found there was no difference between the rate of division of ERalpha(+) cells and ERalpha(-)

SUBMITTER: Mastroianni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2874254 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature