| Literature DB >> 19850030 |
Abstract
The stromal microenvironment regulates mammary gland branching morphogenesis. We have observed that mast cells are present in the mammary gland throughout its postnatal development and, in particular, are found around the terminal end buds and ductal epithelium of the pubertal gland. Mast cells contribute to allergy, inflammatory diseases, and cancer development but have not been implicated in normal development. Genetic and pharmacological disruption of mast cell function in the mammary gland revealed that mast cells are involved in rapid proliferation and normal duct branching during puberty, and this effect is independent of macrophage recruitment, which also regulates mammary gland development. For mast cells to exert their effects on normal morphogenesis required activation of their serine proteases and degranulation. Our observations reveal a novel role for mast cells during normal pubertal development in the mammary gland.Entities:
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Year: 2009 PMID： 19850030 PMCID： PMC2787992 DOI： 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.10.021
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Dev Biol ISSN： 0012-1606 Impact factor: 3.582