Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2021) | Viewed by 19421

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
UMR 1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, INRAE, Domaine de Vilvert, 78 350 Jouy-en-Josas, France

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The mammary gland is a complex organ whose function of milk production is tightly connected to its development, from the embryonic stage and during each cycle of reproduction. If the hormonal regulations that rule these stages are well described, it is not the same for the molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the discovery of non-coding RNA (long and short) opens a new field of research on their roles in mammary gland development.

In healthy females, homeostasis is crucial to the biological function of the mammary gland. Its disturbance may cause a dysfunction of the gland, which will not be able to produce milk or will provoke tumor development. In humans, most studies on the mammary gland attempt to elucidate mechanisms involved in the progression from a normal to malignant phenotype. In breeding, it is essential to devise management strategies that will optimize milk yield and one avenue that needs consideration is mammary development. For example, the number of mammary cells present at the onset of lactation has a major impact on potential milk yield.

Mammary gland development is submitted to the influence of the environment, health, and genetic factors. Most of the affected molecular mechanisms remain to be discovered.

This Special Issue will collect reviews and original research articles concerning the gene analysis of mammary gland development from human and animal models and farm animals in order to promote knowledge on human health as well as dairy production.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fabienne Le Provost
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mammary gland development
  • gene expression
  • lactation
  • breast tumor
  • dairy production
  • coding and non-coding RNAs

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 6250 KiB  
Article
The Role of Csmd1 during Mammary Gland Development
by Samuel J. Burgess, Hannah Gibbs, Carmel Toomes, Patricia L. Coletta and Sandra M. Bell
Genes 2021, 12(2), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12020162 - 26 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3362
Abstract
The Cub Sushi Multiple Domains-1 (CSMD1) protein is a tumour suppressor which has been shown to play a role in regulating human mammary duct development in vitro. CSMD1 knockdown in vitro demonstrated increased cell proliferation, invasion and motility. However, the role of Csmd1 [...] Read more.
The Cub Sushi Multiple Domains-1 (CSMD1) protein is a tumour suppressor which has been shown to play a role in regulating human mammary duct development in vitro. CSMD1 knockdown in vitro demonstrated increased cell proliferation, invasion and motility. However, the role of Csmd1 in vivo is poorly characterised when it comes to ductal development and is therefore an area which warrants further exploration. In this study a Csmd1 knockout (KO) mouse model was used to identify the role of Csmd1 in regulating mammary gland development during puberty. Changes in duct development and protein expression patterns were analysed by immunohistochemistry. This study identified increased ductal development during the early stages of puberty in the KO mice, characterised by increased ductal area and terminal end bud number at 6 weeks. Furthermore, increased expression of various proteins (Stat1, Fak, Akt, Slug/Snail and Progesterone receptor) was shown at 4 weeks in the KO mice, followed by lower expression levels from 6 weeks in the KO mice compared to the wild type mice. This study identifies a novel role for Csmd1 in mammary gland development, with Csmd1 KO causing significantly more rapid mammary gland development, suggesting an earlier adult mammary gland formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers)
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28 pages, 4568 KiB  
Article
Fenugreek Stimulates the Expression of Genes Involved in Milk Synthesis and Milk Flow through Modulation of Insulin/GH/IGF-1 Axis and Oxytocin Secretion
by Thomas Sevrin, Clair-Yves Boquien, Alexis Gandon, Isabelle Grit, Pierre de Coppet, Dominique Darmaun and Marie-Cécile Alexandre-Gouabau
Genes 2020, 11(10), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11101208 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5680
Abstract
We previously demonstrated galactagogue effect of fenugreek in a rat model of lactation challenge, foreshadowing its use in women’s breastfeeding management. To assess longitudinal molecular mechanisms involved in milk synthesis/secretion in dams submitted to fenugreek supplementation, inguinal mammary, pituitary glands and plasma were [...] Read more.
We previously demonstrated galactagogue effect of fenugreek in a rat model of lactation challenge, foreshadowing its use in women’s breastfeeding management. To assess longitudinal molecular mechanisms involved in milk synthesis/secretion in dams submitted to fenugreek supplementation, inguinal mammary, pituitary glands and plasma were isolated in forty-three rats nursing large 12 pups-litters and assigned to either a control (CTL) or a fenugreek-supplemented (FEN) diet during lactation. RT-PCR were performed at days 12 and 18 of lactation (L12 and L18) and the first day of involution (Inv1) to measure the relative expression of genes related to both milk synthesis and its regulation in the mammary gland and lactogenic hormones in the pituitary gland. Plasma hormone concentrations were measured by ELISA. FEN diet induced 2- to 3-times higher fold change in relative expression of several genes related to macronutrient synthesis (Fasn, Acaca, Fabp3, B4galt1, Lalba and Csn2) and energy metabolism (Cpt1a, Acads) and in IGF-1 receptor in mammary gland, mainly at L12. Pituitary oxytocin expression and plasma insulin concentration (+77.1%) were also significantly increased. Altogether, these findings suggest fenugreek might extend duration of peak milk synthesis through modulation of the insulin/GH/IGF-1 axis and increase milk ejection by activation of oxytocin secretion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers)
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Review

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27 pages, 1302 KiB  
Review
Nutritional Regulation of Mammary Gland Development and Milk Synthesis in Animal Models and Dairy Species
by Cathy Hue-Beauvais, Yannick Faulconnier, Madia Charlier and Christine Leroux
Genes 2021, 12(4), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12040523 - 3 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4499
Abstract
In mammals, milk is essential for the growth, development, and health. Milk quantity and quality are dependent on mammary development, strongly influenced by nutrition. This review provides an overview of the data on nutritional regulations of mammary development and gene expression involved in [...] Read more.
In mammals, milk is essential for the growth, development, and health. Milk quantity and quality are dependent on mammary development, strongly influenced by nutrition. This review provides an overview of the data on nutritional regulations of mammary development and gene expression involved in milk component synthesis. Mammary development is described related to rodents, rabbits, and pigs, common models in mammary biology. Molecular mechanisms of the nutritional regulation of milk synthesis are reported in ruminants regarding the importance of ruminant milk in human health. The effects of dietary quantitative and qualitative alterations are described considering the dietary composition and in regard to the periods of nutritional susceptibly. During lactation, the effects of lipid supplementation and feed restriction or deprivation are discussed regarding gene expression involved in milk biosynthesis, in ruminants. Moreover, nutrigenomic studies underline the role of the mammary structure and the potential influence of microRNAs. Knowledge from three lactating and three dairy livestock species contribute to understanding the variety of phenotypes reported in this review and highlight (1) the importance of critical physiological stages, such as puberty gestation and early lactation and (2) the relative importance of the various nutrients besides the total energetic value and their interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers)
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33 pages, 2324 KiB  
Review
Epigenetics: New Insights into Mammary Gland Biology
by Elitsa Ivanova, Sandrine Le Guillou, Cathy Hue-Beauvais and Fabienne Le Provost
Genes 2021, 12(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12020231 - 5 Feb 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5180
Abstract
The mammary gland undergoes important anatomical and physiological changes from embryogenesis through puberty, pregnancy, lactation and involution. These steps are under the control of a complex network of molecular factors, in which epigenetic mechanisms play a role that is increasingly well described. Recently, [...] Read more.
The mammary gland undergoes important anatomical and physiological changes from embryogenesis through puberty, pregnancy, lactation and involution. These steps are under the control of a complex network of molecular factors, in which epigenetic mechanisms play a role that is increasingly well described. Recently, studies investigating epigenetic modifications and their impacts on gene expression in the mammary gland have been performed at different physiological stages and in different mammary cell types. This has led to the establishment of a role for epigenetic marks in milk component biosynthesis. This review aims to summarize the available knowledge regarding the involvement of the four main molecular mechanisms in epigenetics: DNA methylation, histone modifications, polycomb protein activity and non-coding RNA functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers)
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