The Terminal End Bud: the Little Engine that Could.
The mammary gland is one of the most regenerative organs in the body, with the majority of development occurring postnatally and in the adult mammal. Formation of the ductal tree is orchestrated by a specialized structure called the terminal end bud (TEB). The TEB is responsible for the production of mature cell types leading to the elongation of the subtending duct. The TEB is also the regulatory control point for basement membrane deposition, branching, angiogenesis, and pattern formation. While the hormonal control of TEB growth is well characterized, the local regulatory factors are less well understood. Recent studies of pubertal outgrowth and ductal elongation have yielded surprising details in regards to ongoing processes in the TEB. Here we summarize the current understanding of TEB biology, discuss areas of future study, and discuss the use of the TEB as a model for the study of breast cancer.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Ingrid S
IS
Paine
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. mtlewis@bcm.edu.|Department Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. mtlewis@bcm.edu.
Michael T
MT
Lewis
D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
Cap cell; Ductal elongation; Mammary gland; Terminal end bud