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Gene Analysis of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancers

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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 15661

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fabienne Le Provost

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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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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 6250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 4 | Viewed by 2853

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 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

Open AccessArticle

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 14 | Viewed by 4514

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 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

Open AccessReview

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 - 03 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3583

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 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

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

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 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4100

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, 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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