Resident macrophages influence stem cell activity in the mammary gland
- Author(s)
- Gyorki, DE; Asselin-Labat, ML; van Rooijen, N; Lindeman, GJ; Visvader, JE;
- Details
- Publication Year 2009,Volume 11,Issue #4,Page -
- Journal Title
- BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- Introduction Macrophages in the mammary gland are essential for morphogenesis of the ductal epithelial tree and have been implicated in promoting breast tumor metastasis. Although it is well established that macrophages influence normal mammopoiesis, the mammary cell types that these accessory cells influence have not been determined. Here we have explored a role for macrophages in regulating mammary stem cell (MaSC) activity, by assessing the ability of MaSCs to reconstitute a mammary gland in a macrophage-depleted fat pad. Methods Two different in vivo models were used to deplete macrophages from the mouse mammary fat pad, allowing us to examine the effect of macrophage deficiency on the mammary repopulating activity of MaSCs. Both the Csf1(op/op) mice and clodronate liposome-mediated ablation models entailed transplantation studies using the MaSC-enriched population. Results We show that mammary repopulating ability is severely compromised when the wild-type MaSC-enriched subpopulation is transplanted into Csf1(op/op) fat pads. In reciprocal experiments, the MaSC-enriched subpopulation from Csf1(op/op) glands had reduced regenerative capacity in a wildtype environment. Utilizing an alternative strategy for selective depletion of macrophages from the mammary gland, we demonstrate that co-implantation of the MaSC-enriched subpopulation with clodronate-liposomes leads to a marked decrease in repopulating frequency and outgrowth potential. Conclusions Our data reveal a key role for mammary gland macrophages in supporting stem/progenitor cell function and suggest that MaSCs require macrophage-derived factors to be fully functional. Macrophages may therefore constitute part of the mammary stem cell niche.
- Publisher
- BIOMED CENTRAL LTD
- Keywords
- STIMULATING FACTOR-I; EOSINOPHILS
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr2353
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2009-01-01 12:00:00