Hello Jean,

After a quick (not extensive) search, I found this 2017 paper, although there surely must be many others:

Title:  Cells of Human Breast Milk.

In:  Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters 2017 Jul 13 eCollection 2017  DOI: 10.1186/s11658-017-0042-4

Authors:  Malgorzata Witkowska-Zimny, Ewa Kaminska-El-Hassan.

This paper includes a brief discussion of epithelial and myoepithelial cells.  Here is an excerpt:  

"Luminal and myoepithelial cells and their precursors represent nearly 98% of the non-immune cell types in human milk under healthy conditions.  They express a few membrane antigens: CK5, CK14 and CK18, which are markers of differentiation of mammary epithelial cells.  Myoepithelial cells build smooth muscle fibers surrounding the alveoli.  Their contraction results in the expulsion of milk from the alveoli into the milk ducts.  Luminal cells express epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM), whereas myoepithelial cells express smooth muscle actin (SMA) and cytokeratin 14 (CK14).  Lactocytes line the alveoli of the human mammary gland and are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of milk into the alveolar lumen.  These alveolar cells express cytokeratin 18 (CK18) and synthesize milk proteins such as α-lactalbumin and ß-casein.  Mammary precursors to both luminal and myoepithelial cell types express α6 integrin (CD49f) and cytokeratin 5 (CK5).  Many studies demonstrate that epithelial cells isolated from fresh breast milk are adherent cells that form colonies of various morphologies that can be maintained through multiple in vitro culture passages.  A similar cell morphology is also observed in our laboratory."

Open access:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508878/

I'm not familiar with any past thinking that epithelial cells were once considered to be dead cells, but of course I'm willing to be educated about this.    


An interesting new study on the buffalo mammary epithelial cell line:

Title:  In-depth proteome analysis of more than 12,500 proteins in buffalo mammary epithelial cell line identifies protein signatures for active proliferation and lactation.

In:  Scientific Reports 2020 March 16;10(1):4834. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61521-1.

Authors:  Shalini Jaswal, Vijay Anand, Sudarshan Kumar, Shveta Bathla, Ajay K. Dang, Jai K. Kaushik & Ashok K. Mohanty.

Open access:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61521-1

 
With best regards,

Debbie

Debra Swank, RN BSN IBCLC
Program Director
MoreThanReflexes Education
Elkins WV USA
http://www.MoreThanReflexes.org

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome