Live cells discovered in human breast milk could aid breast cancer
research

Date:
January 28, 2022
Source:
University of Cambridge
Summary:
Researchers have explored the cellular changes that occur in human
mammary tissue in lactating and non-lactating women, offering
insight into the relationship between pregnancy, lactation, and
breast cancer.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The study was led by researchers from the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem
Cell Institute (CSCI) and the Department of Pharmacology at the University
of Cambridge.


========================================================================== Breast tissue is dynamic, changing over time during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and aging. The paper, published today in the journal
Nature Communications, focuses on the changes that take place during
lactation by investigating cells found in human milk.

This research, led by Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger of CSCI, found that the
cells in milk, once thought to be dead or dying, are in fact very much
alive. These living cells provide researchers with the chance to study
not only the changes that occur in mammary tissues during lactation,
but also insight into a potential early indicator of future breast
cancer development.

"I believe that by studying human milk cells, we will be able to answer
some of the most fundamental questions around mammary gland function such
as: how is milk produced? Why do some women struggle to make milk? and
what strategies can be employed to improve breastfeeding outcomes for
women?" said Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem
Cell Institute who led the study.

The researchers collected voluntary breast milk samples from lactating
women, as well as samples of non-lactating breast tissue donated from
women who elected to have aesthetic breast reduction surgery. Using
single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, the team conducted a novel comparison
of the composition of the mammary cells taken using these two methods, identifying the distinctions between lactating and non-lactating human
mammary glands.

While accessing breast tissue for study relies on donors already
undergoing surgery, breast milk samples are much simpler to
acquire. Breast milk donors are engaged via midwives or women's networks
(an undertaking made more challenging by the pandemic) and agree to
share their samples over time.

Typical daily production for lactating women is between 750-800ml,
and the sample size for Twigger's research is on average a mere 50ml,
an amount which can contain hundreds of thousands of cells for study.

By collecting these samples donated by breastfeeding women -- samples
now known to contain living and viable cells -- researchers have the opportunity to capture dynamic cells in a non-invasive way. This greater
ease of access to breast cells can open the door to more studies on
women's health in the future.

"The first time Alecia told me that she found live cells in milk I was surprised and excited about the possibilities. We hope this finding
will enable future studies into the early steps of breast cancer,"
said Dr Walid Khaled, at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
and University of Cambridge's Department of Pharmacology, who was also
involved in the study.

This paper and its findings are part of the Human Breast Cell Atlas
project funded by the MRC.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Cambridge. The original
text of this story is licensed under a Creative_Commons_License. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Alecia-Jane Twigger, Lisa K. Engelbrecht, Karsten Bach, Isabel
Schultz-
Pernice, Sara Pensa, Jack Stenning, Stefania Petricca, Christina H.

Scheel, Walid T. Khaled. Transcriptional changes in the mammary
gland during lactation revealed by single cell sequencing of
cells from human milk. Nature Communications, 2022; 13 (1) DOI:
10.1038/s41467-021-27895-0 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220128085736.htm

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