An Organotypic Assay for the Quantification and Characterization of Regenerative Primary Human Mammary Epithelial Cells
Aus dem Helmholtz Zentrum München Institut für Stammzellforschung Direktorin: Prof. Dr. Magdalena Götz An organotypic assay for the quantification and characterization of regenerative primary human mammary epithelial cells Dissertation zum Erwerb des Doktorgrades der Naturwissenschaften an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München vorgelegt von Jelena Linnemann aus Bielefeld 2017 Gedruckt mit Genehmigung der Medizinischen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Betreuerin: Prof. Dr. Magdalena Götz Zweitgutachter: Prof. Andreas Ladurner, Ph.D. Dekan: Prof. Dr. med. dent. Reinhard Hickel Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 19.12.2017 Within the scope of the present PhD thesis, the following original article has been published in an international peer reviewed journal: Linnemann, J.R., Miura, H., Meixner, L.K., Irmler, M., Kloos, U.J., Hirschi, B., Bartsch, H.S., Sass, S., Beckers, J., Theis, F.J., Gabka C., Sotlar K. and Scheel C.H. (2015). Quantification of regenerative potential in primary human mammary epithelial cells. Development, DOI:10.1242/dev.123554. Abstract Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a high degree of intra- and intertumoral diversity, which impedes accurate patient stratification, prognosis and optimal treatment. The mammary gland consists of a complex network of epithelial ducts which end in clusters of alveoli, called terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) which are the functional units of the mammary gland. Postnatal mammary gland development and homeostasis require an enormous regenerative output, suggesting the existence of tissue stem/progenitor cells and a high degree of cellular plasticity to ensure functional robustness, i.e. the production and secretion of milk during lactation. Therefore, the observed heterogeneity in breast cancer is likely the result of normal mammary gland architecture and functionality.
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