Immune System, Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer Link
University of Cambridge scientists found an unexpected link between a key part of the immune system and the cells that produce milk in the breast during lactation.
Cytokines, which have a central role in immune response, are used in the breast to promote the production of milk producing cells. When cells respond incorrectly to cytokine signalling, they can grow out of control and become cancerous.
The findings, reported July 5 in the journal Development give implications for understanding breast cancer cells.
According to Dr Walid Khaled from the University’s Department of Pathology, who conducted the research:
“This really was an unexpected discovery. Up until now we thought that breast development was controlled by just steroid and peptide hormones.
The discovery of this role played by aspects of the immune system will open up new avenues for examining the development of breast cancer, particularly in women who have just had a baby, a time when there is a greater risk of breast cancer.”
While Dr Christine Watson, who leads the research group at the University of Cambridge, commented:
“The breast undergoes tremendous and amazing changes during and after pregnancy.
The body generates milk producing cells using signalling mechanisms adopted from the immune system and once a child is weaned these cells die and the mammary gland returns to its pre-pregnant state.
It is vital that we understand the processes involved as it is when these normal developmental events go wrong that we are at risk of cancer developing.”
Read the full report.
Tags: breast-cancer, breast-cancer-cells, cytokines, mammary-glandsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Breast cancer
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