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0This research paper presents a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the aging mouse mammary gland, detailing how cellular environments transform over time. By utilizing scRNA-seq and snATAC-seq technologies, the study identifies significant compositional shifts across epithelial, immune, and stromal cell populations. The findings reveal that aging triggers epigenetic and transcriptomic rewiring that mirrors signatures typically found in breast cancer. Specifically, aged tissues show an expansion of pro-inflammatory T cells and a transition of fibroblasts into states that resemble cancer-associated fibroblasts. The authors also highlight a loss of lineage fidelity in epithelial cells, suggesting that age-related molecular changes create a microenvironment conducive to tumor initiation. Ultimately, this resource provides a bridge between the biological processes of normal aging and the increased risk of malignancy in mammary tissues.
References:
Angarola B L, Sharma S, Katiyar N, et al. Comprehensive single-cell aging atlas of healthy mammary tissues reveals shared epigenomic and transcriptomic signatures of aging and cancer[J]. Nature Aging, 2025, 5(1): 122-143.
