The differentiation of mammary epithelial cells into secretory cells capable of sustaining lactation is of great importance to newborn health. Secretory activation occurs at parturition, marks the transition between late pregnancy and lactation, and is dependent on Akt. Since diseases such as diabetes and obesity are correlated with Akt1 activity and adversely effect lactation. Understanding how Akt functions normally during secretory activation will provide the means to understand lactation defects resulting from these disorders. Much of the molecular analysis of events that underlie this transition has focused upon the regulation of milk protein gene expression. However, milk fat provides the crucial nutrient that supports both growth and brain development of the offspring. Akt dependent metabolic changes that occur at secretory activation include increased glucose transport and elevated lipogenesis that maintain a constant fat composition in milk. We hypothesize that Akt1 is a critical genetic regulator of secretory activation that is particularly important in the metabolic switch that occurs at this transition.
Three specific aims are designed to test this hypothesis: 1) We will identify genes specific to the mammary epithelium whose expression is regulated by Akt1 during secretory differentiation and activation using qPCR and global expression arrays. 2) We will test these Akt dependent regulators for ability to restore lipogenic differentiation and secretory activation in established mammary epithelial cell lines in vitro and in Akt1 null mammary epithelium in vivo. We will determine whether any of these genes can stimulate fatty acid biosynthesis to form cytoplasmic lipid droplets in the absence of differentiation stimuli. 3) We will identify mammary epithelium specific phosphorylated protein substrates for Akt1 that are necessary for lipogenic differentiation and secretory activation by using multiple proteomic platforms that identify phosphorylated proteins. Cumulatively, the identification of Akt1 dependent genes, plus Akt1 dependent protein substrates, will allow us to elucidate normal mammary epithelium function of Akt1. We ultimately will provide a strong foundation toward enhancing the impaired lactation of women who are afflicted by diabetes and/or obesity.
Akt1 regulates lipogenic differentiation of mammary epithelial cells during pregnancy and lactation;however, it also integrates signals for cell survival, proliferation, and energy metabolism. Because Akt1 is activated by diabetes and obesity, it integrates both normal and abnormal stimuli to modulate mammary gland function. Understanding how Akt functions may improve lactation in obese and diabetic women.
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