title: Enrichment of a population of mammary gland cells that form mammospheres and have in vivo repopulating activity.
abstract: The identification of mammary gland stem cells (MGSC) or progenitors is important for the study of normal breast development and tumorigenesis. Based on their immunophenotype, we have isolated a population of mouse mammary gland cells that are capable of forming "mammospheres" in vitro. Importantly, mammospheres are enriched for cells that regenerate an entire mammary gland on implantation into a mammary fat pad. We also undertook cytogenetic analyses of mammosphere-forming cells after prolonged culture, which provided preliminary insight into the genomic stability of these cells. Our identification of new cell surface markers for enriching mammosphere-initiating cells, including endoglin and prion protein, will facilitate the elucidation of the cell biology of MGSC.
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
authors.forename: Mai-Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Cheng Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Beiyan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Drazen B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zimonjic
authors.forename: Sendurai A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaba
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Nicholas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Elinor Ng
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Harvey F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lodish
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weinberg
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009940:Organoids / Q000166:cytology