Phenotypic and functional characterisation of the luminal cell hierarchy of the mammary gland.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The organisation of the mammary epithelial hierarchy is poorly understood. Our hypothesis is that the luminal cell compartment is more complex than initially described, and that an understanding of the developmental relationships within this lineage will help in understanding the cellular context in which breast tumours occur.

Methods

We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting along with in vitro and in vivo functional assays to examine the growth and differentiation properties of distinct subsets of human and mouse mammary epithelial cells. We also examined how loss of steroid hormones influenced these populations in vivo. Gene expression profiles were also obtained for all the purified cell populations and correlated to those obtained from breast tumours.

SUBMITTER: Shehata M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4053112 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature