The bone morphogenetic protein receptor-1A pathway is required for lactogenic differentiation of mammary epithelial cells in vitro.

ABSTRACT: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been implicated in the control of proliferation, tissue formation, and differentiation. BMPs regulate the biology of stem and progenitor cells and can promote cellular differentiation, depending on the cell type and context. Although the BMP pathway is known to be involved in early embryonic development of the mammary gland via mesenchymal cells, its role in later epithelial cellular differentiation has not been examined. The majority of the mammary gland development occurs post-natal, and its final functional differentiation is characterized by the emergence of alveolar cells that produce milk proteins. Here, we tested the hypothesis that bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1A (BMPR1A) function was required for mammary epithelial cell differentiatio

SUBMITTER: Perotti C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3404688 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature