Expression of BCL-2 in the developing human fetal and infant breast.
The expression of BCL-2 protein was analysed in 10 fetal and 45 infant breast specimens by immunocytochemical staining of methacarn-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. In the developing fetal breast bud, BCL-2 was expressed in the basal cell layer and in the surrounding mesenchyme. Basal cells of epithelial buds destined to become hair follicles also expressed BCL-2 while the basal cell layer of the epidermis was negative. In infant breasts studied (aged 0-2 years), there was heterogeneous staining of the luminal epithelial cells of the ducts and lobules and no staining of myoepithelial cells or fibroblasts. The intensity of staining had a strong positive correlation with the age of the infant. Although the function of the bcl-2 gene in epithelial cells is unknown, these findings suggest that bcl-2 has a role in the morphogenesis of the human breast, and may help to sustain active epithelial-mesenchymal interaction by inducing longevity of certain cells.
Nathan
B
B
Section of Cell Biology and Experimental Pathology, Haddow Laboratories Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Anbazhagan
R
R
Clarkson
P
P
Bartkova
J
J
Gusterson
B
B
D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2