The beginning of the end: death signaling in early involution.
Mammary gland involution occurs in two distinct phases: an early, reversible phase, involving extensive apoptosis of the secretory alveolar epithelium without major changes in gland architecture, and a later, irreversible phase, involving remodelling of the gland to its pre-pregnancy state. Multiple signalling pathways are known to be important during early involution, however the precise triggers remain elusive. This review summarizes the roles of a number of key pathways (NF-kappaB, PI(3)K, Stat3, and TGFbeta) in the first phase of involution.
Baxter
Fiona O
FO
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK. fob20@cam.ac.uk
Neoh
Kevin
K
Tevendale
Maxine C
MC
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014886:Weaning