Changes in the mammary gland during aging and its links with breast diseases

Junqiang Lin; Shihui Ye; Hao Ke; Liang Lin; Xia Wu; Mengfei Guo; Baowei Jiao; Ceshi Chen; Limin Zhao

doi:10.3724/abbs.2023073

Changes in the mammary gland during aging and its links with breast diseases

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2023 May 15;55(6):1001-1019. doi: 10.3724/abbs.2023073.

Authors

Junqiang Lin¹, Shihui Ye¹, Hao Ke¹, Liang Lin¹, Xia Wu¹, Mengfei Guo², Baowei Jiao^{3

4}, Ceshi Chen^{5

6

7}, Limin Zhao¹

Affiliations

¹ Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Human Aging, Nanchang 330031, China.
² Huankui Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
⁴ KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
⁵ Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
⁷ The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650118, China.

Abstract

The functional capacity of organisms declines in the process of aging. In the case of breast tissue, abnormal mammary gland development can lead to dysfunction in milk secretion, a primary function, as well as the onset of various diseases, such as breast cancer. In the process of aging, the terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) within the breast undergo gradual degeneration, while the proportion of adipose tissue in the breast continues to increase and hormonal levels in the breast change accordingly. Here, we review changes in morphology, internal structure, and cellular composition that occur in the mammary gland during aging. We also explore the emerging mechanisms of breast aging and the relationship between changes during aging and breast-related diseases, as well as potential interventions for delaying mammary gland aging and preventing breast disease.

Keywords: aging; breast cancer; breast disease; mammary gland.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aging
Breast
Breast Neoplasms*
Female
Humans
Mammary Glands, Human*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2020YFA0112300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82260488, 32200679, 81830087, and U2102203), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Nos. 2021TQ0137 and 2021M701544), the Yunnan Applied Basic Research Key Projects (Nos. 202001AT070102, 202001AT070104, 2019FB047, and 202101AS070050), the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 20224BAB205014 and 20224BAB216071), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (No. CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX056), the Postgraduate Innovation Special Fund Project of Jiangxi (No. YC2022-s047), the College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program of Nanchang University (Nos. 2022CX024 and 2022CX158), and the Scientific Research Training Program of Nanchang University (2022).