Howard Beatrice, Ashworth Alan
University College London, United Kingdom.
PLoS Genet. 2006 Aug 25;2(8):e112. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020112.
Specification of mammary epithelial cell fate occurs during embryogenesis as cells aggregate to form the mammary anlage. Within the embryonic mammary bud, a population of epithelial cells exists that will subsequently proliferate to form a ductal tree filling the stromal compartment, and which can produce milk upon terminal differentiation after birth. Subsequently, these structures can be remodelled and returned to a basal state after weaning before regenerating in future pregnancies. The plasticity of the mammary epithelial cell, and its responsiveness to hormone receptors, facilitates this amazing biological feat, but aberrant signalling may also result in unintended consequences in the form of frequent malignancies. Reflecting this intimate connection, a considerable number of signalling pathways have been implicated in both mammary gland morphogenesis and carcinogenesis.
乳腺上皮细胞命运的特化发生在胚胎发育过程中，此时细胞聚集形成乳腺原基。在胚胎乳腺芽内，存在一群上皮细胞，这些细胞随后会增殖形成充满基质腔的导管树，并在出生后终末分化时产生乳汁。随后，这些结构在断奶后可被重塑并恢复到基础状态，以便在未来怀孕时再生。乳腺上皮细胞的可塑性及其对激素受体的反应性促成了这一惊人的生物学过程，但异常信号传导也可能导致频繁发生恶性肿瘤等意外后果。鉴于这种密切联系，相当数量的信号通路已被证明与乳腺形态发生和致癌作用均有关联。
