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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 2/2003

01-04-2003 | Commentary

Polarity determination in breast tissue: desmosomal adhesion, myoepithelial cells, and laminin 1

Authors: Mina J Bissell, David Bilder

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 2/2003

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Abstract

In all epithelial organs, apicobasal polarity determines functional integrity and contributes to the maintenance of tissue and organ specificity. In the breast, the functional unit is a polar double-layered tube consisting of luminal epithelial cells surrounded by myoepithelial cells and a basement membrane. It is far from clear how this double-layered structure is established and how polarity is maintained. Two recent papers have shed some light onto this intriguing problem in mammary gland biology. The results point to desmosomes and laminin 1 as having crucial roles. However, some questions remain.
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Metadata
Title
Polarity determination in breast tissue: desmosomal adhesion, myoepithelial cells, and laminin 1
Authors
Mina J Bissell
David Bilder
Publication date
01-04-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 2/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr579

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