Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-3498, USA.
Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2010 Dec;10(6):643-9. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2010.07.004.
The mammary stem cell and its local microenvironment are central for the maintenance of proper tissue homeostasis during normal development. Defining the hierarchical organization of the epithelial subtypes in the mammary gland and the molecular pathways guiding their development has begun to provide a framework for understanding how cancer stem cells sustain the progression and heterogeneity of breast cancers. The Wnt pathway plays a fundamental role in multiple adult stem cells, as well as in orchestrating proper mammary gland development and maintenance. These processes are intricately guided by the influence of systemic hormones and local factors. Alterations in Wnt signaling can skew the homeostatic balance of the mammary epithelium to drive malignant progression; however, complexities of Wnt pathway components present a challenge in understanding their physiological function.
乳腺干细胞及其局部微环境对于正常发育过程中组织内稳态的维持至关重要。定义乳腺上皮亚型的层次组织和指导其发育的分子途径,已经开始为理解癌症干细胞如何维持乳腺癌的进展和异质性提供了一个框架。Wnt 通路在多种成体干细胞中以及在协调乳腺发育和维持中起着基本作用。这些过程受到全身激素和局部因素的影响而变得错综复杂。Wnt 信号转导的改变会破坏乳腺上皮的内稳态平衡,从而促使恶性进展;然而,Wnt 通路成分的复杂性给理解其生理功能带来了挑战。