Hormonal Regulation of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Abstract

One of the principal objectives of our laboratory is to understand the mechanisms by which hormones and growth factors regulate normal mammary gland development and how these same regulatory pathways become altered in breast cancer. Specific emphasis has been placed upon studying the mechanisms by which the lactogenic hormones, prolactin, hydrocortisone and insulin, regulate milk protein gene expression. The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein B (c/EBPB), Yin Yang-i (YY- 1), signal transducers and activators of transcription S (STATS), and the glucocorticoid receptor (OR) all have been shown to mediate the hormonal and developmental regulation of B-casein gene expression. However, the mechanism by which these transcription factors as well as coactivator proteins coordinately function to promote normal mammary gland development and breast cancer remains undefined. To understand the role of C/EBPj3, STATS, OR and comodulatory factors in hormonally-regulated chromatin remodeling at the 3-casein promoter and enhancer, we have initiated chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in HCl 1 cells and in the mammary gland and liver from lactating mice. In addition, we have analyzed mammary gland development in several specific mouse knockouts. The examination of mammary transplants from OR* and CBP mice suggested that MR may compensate for the loss of OR in mammary gland development during pregnancy, lactation and involution, and that haploinsufficiency of CBP does not appear to affect mammary gland development.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA423751

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey M. Rosen
  • Wa Xian

Organizations

  • Baylor College of Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cells
  • Chromosome Structures
  • Electronic Mail
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Gene Expression
  • Growth Factors
  • Mammary Glands
  • Neoplasms
  • Pregnancy
  • Proteins
  • Regulations
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transplants

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology