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Breastmilk is a novel source of stem cells with multi‐lineage differentiation potential
Author(s) -
Hassiotou Foteini,
Filgueira Luis,
Hartmann Peter E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.21.2
Subject(s) - sox2 , homeobox protein nanog , stem cell , population , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cellular differentiation , embryonic stem cell , medicine , endocrinology , induced pluripotent stem cell , genetics , environmental health , gene
The breast undergoes extensive remodelling at each pregnancy/lactation, based on mammary stem cell (MaSC) expansion and differentiation. Most of our knowledge on MaSCs comes from the resting breast, where these cells are quiescent and in low numbers. In our laboratory we examine the lactating breast that contains higher numbers of MaSCs, which we access non‐invasively via breastmilk. Here, we describe the presence of MaSCs (CD49f+/CD29+) in breastmilk, which were able to self‐renew and differentiate into mammary cells. In addition, a cell population was identified expressing pluripotency markers (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG) and being able to self‐renew and differentiate into various lineages, including: mammary cells, neuron‐like and glia‐like cells, hepatocyte‐like cells expressing albumin, pancreatic beta‐like cells expressing insulin, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes and cardiomyocytes. These findings strongly suggest the existence of a cellular hierarchy in the human lactating breast, at the top of which sits a cell population with potential pluripotency, which can be easily accessed via breastmilk. Grant Funding Source : Women and Infants Research Foundation; and Medela AG (Switzerland)