Breast Cancer Research: “Parity induces differentiation and reduces Wnt/Notch signaling ratio and proliferation potential of basal stem/progenitor cells isolated from mouse mammary” epithelium

In other words, this may be the way that “parity-induced protection” (or decreased risk of breast cancer due to having a baby) decreases the chance of breast cancer: pregnancy “produces differentiation” of a certain group of progenitor cells.

 

Conclusions

By revealing that parity induces differentiation and downregulates the Wnt/Notch signaling ratio and the in vitro and in vivo proliferation potential of basal stem/progenitor cells in mice, our study sheds light on the long-term consequences of an early pregnancy. Furthermore, it opens the door to future studies assessing whether inhibitors of the Wnt pathway may be used to mimic the parity-induced protective effect against breast cancer.

via Breast Cancer Research | Abstract | Parity induces differentiation and reduces Wnt/Notch signaling ratio and proliferation potential of basal stem/progenitor cells isolated from mouse mammary epithelium.

This article acknowledges what we’ve known and suspected.  Wonder how that gene is affected by an elective abortion – and will we ever know?