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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
11:13
Indirect Immunofluorescence on Frozen Sections of Mouse Mammary Gland
Published on: December 1, 2015
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Interplay between hormonal and mechanical signals in mammary morphodynamics
Alişya A Anlaş1, Celeste M Nelson2
1Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.
Trends in Cell Biology
|March 27, 2024
Summary
Increased breast tissue stiffness elevates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity, promoting progesterone receptor-dependent receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ (RANK) signaling. This mechanism links tissue stiffness to mammary stem cell changes and suggests potential breast cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mammographic density is a known risk factor for breast cancer.
- The underlying biological mechanisms linking density to cancer risk are under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of tissue stiffness in breast cancer development.
- To elucidate the molecular pathways affected by tissue stiffness in the mammary gland.
Main Methods:
- The study by Northey et al. examined the relationship between tissue stiffness and cellular signaling pathways.
- Analysis focused on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity and its downstream effects.
Main Results:
- Increased tissue stiffness was found to elevate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity.
- This elevated ERK activity promotes progesterone receptor-dependent receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ (RANK) signaling.
- Tissue stiffness alters hormonal signaling context and increases mammary stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Tissue stiffness is a critical factor influencing mammary stem cell behavior and hormonal signaling.
- The identified mechanism provides a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer prevention and treatment.
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