Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Medical Institute in Australia have used advanced cell biology, bioinformatics and imaging techniques to discover a long-standing stem cell in the mammary gland that is responsible for the growth of the breast during pregnancy. This newly discovered stem cell can also respond to "ovarian hormones" progesterone and estrogen, and may therefore be associated with high-risk breast cancer.
The study was published in the Feb. 13 issue of the journal Nature Cell Biology, the author of the study at the Walter-Eliza Hall Institute, Professor Jane E. Visvader, the first author of Nai Yang Fu (Phonetic) And Dr. Anne Rios, the study is a 20-year research project on how stem cells develop into breast tissue and breast cancer.
"When we look at the genes that are open to these stem cells, we find that these stem cell subsets can be distinguished by their gene expression differences (encoding two proteins: Tetraspanin8 and Lgr5) by analyzing the expression of Tetraspanin8 and Lgr5 proteins on the cell surface," Dr. Fu said. At the level of expression, we divide the stem cells into three separate subgroups.
After the study group using three-dimensional imaging and other technologies to explore the positioning in the breast at different locations, with different functions of the three groups of stem cells. "We focus on a stem cell subtype with the highest expression levels of Tetraspanin8 and Lgr5 proteins, which are located in the 'proximal' region around the nipple," Dr. Rios said.
These stem cells are normally dormant, are quietly carried out, do not undergo cell division, and remain in the proximal region throughout their lifecycle. "But if they come into contact with progesterone and estrogen, these cells will be activated and may produce new breast cells quickly," Professor Visvader said.
Studies have also shown that stem cells with high levels of Tetraspanin8 and Lgr5 proteins are similar to a subgroup of cancer cells in the Claudin-low subtype of triple negative breast cancer.
"Compared with other types of breast cancer, Claudin-low subtypes of cancer after treatment will be a high chance of recurrence, leading to poor prognosis of patients," Visvader Professor said.
"We hope that this finding can be used to understand how long - term stem cells develop into cancer and help to develop better ways to treat breast cancer in the future," said the study, which may be used to treat Claudin - Low subtype cancer patients in the future.
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