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Lactation affects expression of intermediate filaments in human breast epithelium
journal contribution
posted on 2001-02-01, 00:00 authored by Agnes MichalczykAgnes Michalczyk, R W Brown, J P Collins, Leigh AcklandLeigh AcklandThe human breast contains two epithelial lineages, luminal epithelial and myoepithelial. Specific patterns of expression of intermediate filaments have previously been demonstrated in the resting breast. To determine how terminal differentiation and lactation influenced expression of intermediate filaments in breast epithelial cells, we used Western blot analysis to measure the levels of vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, keratin 14, and keratin 18 in the resting and lactating breast. Confocal immunofluorescence was used to determine the subcellular site of localization of the intermediate filaments. Vimentin was localised to myoepithelial cells in both the resting and lactating gland. There was a four-fold increase in vimentin protein levels in lactating tissue relative to resting tissue, and this may be related to increased cellular activity of the myoepithelial cells which surround secretory alveoli. Alpha-smooth muscle actin and keratin 14 were detected in myoepithelial cells, and similar levels of expression were found in lactating and resting tissue. In the resting breast, keratin 18 and keratin 8 were detected in luminal epithelial cells in a filamentous form, whereas in lactating tissue it was present in a punctate form in luminal cells and also seen as granules in the lumen of alveoli. Our results indicate that intermediate filament expression patterns are altered in the lactating human breast, and this may reflect their role in the fully functional gland.
History
Journal
DifferentiationVolume
67Issue
1-2Pagination
41 - 49Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0301-4681Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2001, Blackwell Wissenchafts-VerlagUsage metrics
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ActinsAdultBlotting, WesternBreastCell DifferentiationEpithelial CellsFemaleFluorescent Antibody TechniqueHumansIntermediate Filament ProteinsIntermediate FilamentsKeratin-14KeratinsLactationMiddle AgedMuscle, SmoothVimentinScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineCell BiologyDevelopmental Biologykeratin 18keratin 14human breast epithelial cellsHUMAN MAMMARY-GLANDMONOCLONAL-ANTIBODYVIMENTIN EXPRESSIONMYOEPITHELIAL CELLSKERATIN EXPRESSIONVITAMIN-APROTEINSDIFFERENTIATIONCULTUREABSENCE
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