Distinct roles of prolactin, epidermal growth factor, and glucocorticoids in ß-casein secretion pathway in lactating mammary epithelial cells.

Beta-casein is a secretory protein contained in milk. Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) synthesize and secrete ß-casein during lactation. However, it remains unclear how the ß-casein secretion pathway is developed after parturition. In this study, we focused on prolactin (PRL), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and glucocorticoids, which increase in blood plasma and milk around parturition. MECs cultured with PRL, EGF and dexamethasone (DEX: glucocorticoid analog) developed the ß-casein secretion pathway. In the absence of PRL, MECs hardly expressed ß-casein. EGF enhanced the expression and secretion of ß-casein in the presence of PRL and DEX. DEX treatment rapidly increased secreted ß-casein concurrent with enhancing ß-casein expression. DEX also up-regulated the expression of SNARE proteins, such as SNAP-23, VAMP-8 and Syntaxin-12. Furthermore, PRL and DEX regulated the expression ratio of αs1-, ß- and κ-casein. These results indicate that PRL, EGF and glucocorticoids have distinct roles in the establishment of ß-casein secretion pathway.

Prolactin and glucocorticoid signaling induces lactation-specific tight junctions concurrent with ß-casein expression in mammary epithelial cells.

Alveolar mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in mammary glands are highly specialized cells that produce milk for suckling infants. Alveolar MECs also form less permeable tight junctions (TJs) to prevent the leakage of milk components after parturition. In the formation process of less permeable TJs, MECs show a selective downregulation of Cldn4 and a localization change of Cldn3. To investigate what induces less permeable TJs through these compositional changes in Cldns, we focused on two lactogenesis-related hormones: prolactin (Prl) and glucocorticoids. Prl caused a downregulation of Cldn3 and Cldn4 with the formation of leaky TJs in MECs in vitro. Prl-treated MECs also showed low ß-casein expression with the activation of STAT5 signaling. By contrast, dexamethasone (Dex), a glucocorticoid analogue, upregulated Cldn3 and Cldn4, concurrent with the formation of less permeable TJs and the activation of glucocorticoid signaling without the expression of ß-casein. Cotreatment with Prl and Dex induced the selective downregulation of Cldn4 and the concentration of Cldn3 in the region of TJs concurrent with less permeable TJ formation and high ß-casein expression. The inhibition of Prl secretion by bromocriptine in lactating mice induced the upregulation of Cldn3 and Cldn4 concurrent with the downregulation of milk production. These results indicate that the coactivation of Prl and glucocorticoid signaling induces lactation-specific less permeable TJs concurrent with lactogenesis.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α is a key inhibitory factor for lactose synthesis pathway in lactating mammary epithelial cells.

Lactose is a milk-specific carbohydrate synthesized by mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in mammary glands during lactation. Lactose synthesis is downregulated under conditions causing inflammation such as mastitis, in which MECs are exposed to high concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated whether inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) directly influence the lactose synthesis pathway by using two types of murine MEC culture models: the monolayer culture of MECs to induce lactogenesis; and the three-dimensional culture of MECs surrounded by Matrigel to induce reconstitution of the alveolar structure in vitro. TNF-α caused severe down-regulation of lactose synthesis-related genes concurrently with the degradation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) from the basolateral membranes in MECs. IL-1ß also caused degradation of GLUT1 along with a decrease in the expression level of ß-1,4-galactosylransferase 3. IL-6 caused both up-regulation and down-regulation of the expression levels of lactose synthesis-related genes in MECs. These results indicate that TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 have different effects on the lactose synthesis pathway in MECs. Furthermore, TNF-α triggered activation of NFκB and inactivation of STAT5, suggesting that NFκB and STAT5 signaling pathways are involved in the multiple adverse effects of TNF-α on the lactose synthesis pathway.

Early down-regulation of milk production after weaning by pup removal and prior to involution in mouse mammary glands.

The mammary gland is a highly specialized organ that is able to repeat development and regression (involution) of alveolar structures for milk production. Mammary involution consists in two phases. The first phase is reversible and lasts until approximately 48 h after weaning in mice. Interestingly, an extended milking interval can change the milk-secretory activity of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) before the first phase of involution begins. In this study, we investigate the changes in the ability of AECs to secrete milk during the involution progression. Careful observation of the number and locations of cleaved caspase-3 positive AECs revealed that the first phase of involution occurred approximately 24 h after weaning and the second phase began between 48 and 72 h after weaning. However, initial changes in the milk production ability of AECs began just 1 h after weaning and milk production gradually ceased within 24 h. In addition, activation of STAT3 and inactivation of STAT5 had occurred in some AECs by 6 h after weaning and more broadly by 24 h. In addition, milk production processes such as nutrient uptake, synthesis, and secretion ceased by 24 h post-weaning. Interestingly, enlarged cytoplasmic lipid droplets were observed in AECs 12 h after weaning even though the expression levels of genes relevant to triglyceride production (Srebp1 and AQP3) were down-regulated. These results indicate that several changes in the milk production ability of AECs occur during expanded suckling intervals and prior to involution.

Underlying mechanisms involved in the decrease of milk secretion during Escherichia coli endotoxin induced mastitis in lactating mice.

Mastitis, the inflammation of mammary glands resulting from bacterial infection, disrupts milk production in lactating mammary glands. In this study, we injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS), one of the endotoxins from Escherichia coli into mouse mammary glands to disrupt milk production, and we investigated the influence of LPS on nutrient uptake, synthesis, and secretion processes for milk component production in alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). The expression of genes relevant to the three-staged milk component production process (nutrient uptake, synthesis, and secretion of milk components) were down-regulated within 12 h after LPS injection in AEC. The internalization of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) from the basolateral membrane to the cytoplasm occurred in accordance with the down-regulation of gene expression 3 h after LPS injection. The abnormal localization of adipophilin and beta-casein was also observed in the LPS-injected mammary glands. SLC7A1, an amino acid transporter, was up-regulated 3 and 6 h after LPS injection. Furthermore, the inactivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and the activation of STAT3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NFkappaB) occurred 3 h after LPS injection. These results indicate that the nutrient uptake, synthesis, and secretion of milk components in AEC are rapidly shut down in the lactating mammary glands after LPS injection.