Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • All
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Giveaways
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    Breastfeeding mother with mastitis

    What are the causes and treatment of mastitis?

    Gift guide for breastfeeding mothers - Boob Bling stackable ring

    The best Christmas gift guide for breastfeeding mothers

    Black Friday 2023 deals on Amazon - Babymoov monitor

    Amazon Black Friday deals for new parents – 2023 edition

    Ardo Alyssa electric breastpump

    Giveaway: Win the Ardo Alyssa electric breastpump

    Lola&Lykke breastfeeding kit

    This Black Friday save big on the Lola&Lykke breast pump (and more!)

    Daisy Lowe breastfeeding October 2023

    5 of the best celebrity breastfeeding moments from October 2023

    Trending Tags

    • boobingit podcast
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Celebrity
    • breastfeeding celebrities
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    • Giveaways
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • All
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Giveaways
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    Breastfeeding mother with mastitis

    What are the causes and treatment of mastitis?

    Gift guide for breastfeeding mothers - Boob Bling stackable ring

    The best Christmas gift guide for breastfeeding mothers

    Black Friday 2023 deals on Amazon - Babymoov monitor

    Amazon Black Friday deals for new parents – 2023 edition

    Ardo Alyssa electric breastpump

    Giveaway: Win the Ardo Alyssa electric breastpump

    Lola&Lykke breastfeeding kit

    This Black Friday save big on the Lola&Lykke breast pump (and more!)

    Daisy Lowe breastfeeding October 2023

    5 of the best celebrity breastfeeding moments from October 2023

    Trending Tags

    • boobingit podcast
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Celebrity
    • breastfeeding celebrities
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    • Giveaways
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result
Home Articles

Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

Curated by Curated
January 20, 2023
in Articles, Breastfeeding benefits, Latest research
0
Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

Scientists have discovered a protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over – something which could provide effective new targets for cancer treatments.

The groundbreaking study from the University of Sheffield uncovered a protein called Rac1, which acts as a critical switch to kick-start milk production in breast cells when lactation has stopped and the breast has already begun returning to its pre-pregnancy state.

Once babies start eating solids, the breasts wind down production of milk and undergo a process of shrinkage to return back to in-activity. The milk producing units are dismantled through cellular suicide to remove the redundant tissue. During intermittent feeding the shrinking breast can remarkably reverse to reinitiate lactation if suckling resumes. Until now it was not known how this process happened.

Dr Nasreen Akhtar and her team from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Oncology and Metabolism, investigated mouse mammary glands – which are structurally similar to humans. They discovered that when the Rac1 protein is present cell death occurs with autophagy – a process in which cells start eating their own parts in a desperate bid to survive.

Importantly the study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, revealed that half-dead, half alive cells with autophagy can be brought back to life to recommence milk production, upon suckling but cells without the Rac1 protein cannot.

The discovery could provide new insights into how breast cancer cells acquire resistance to cell death in non-permissive environments.

Rac1 not only causes live breast cells to gobble up their dying neighbors but it’s also responsible for cells eating themselves.

Flow of milk caused by suckling is thought to initiate lactation but what happens at the cellular level has baffled scientists for years.

Despite the massive wave of cell death that occurs in the first phase of the end of lactation, if suckling resumes the breast can reverse the process and re-lactate. This is a fail-safe built-in mechanism to prevent the breast from drying up too quickly.

It’s particularly important in nature for the survival of mammals, for example if a nursing mammal was separated from her pups for longer than expected whilst foraging, she would still be able feed once reunited.

Remarkably some mammals have a really long reversible phase; for example, the cape fur seal which goes on long offshore foraging trips, for up to 28 days can still re-lactate once suckling resumes ashore.”

Dr Nasreen Akhtar, Lead Author, Lecturer in Developmental Cell Biology, University of Sheffield

Dr Akhtar explained why this study could have important implications for targeting cancer cells which are resistant to current therapies.

She added: “The risk of most breast cancer progression is highest in the post-pregnancy years – perhaps caused by an altered activity during the post-weaning remodelling stage.

“The discovery here could expose potential pathways and proteins that cancer cells exploit to survive and grow.”

Source:

University of Sheffield

Journal reference:

Mironov, A., et al. (2023) Rac1 controls cell turnover and reversibility of the involution process in postpartum mammary glands. PLOS Biology. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001583.

This article was first published here. You can read the original article in full here.

Tags: breastfeedingbreastfeeding and cancerbreastfeeding benefitsbreastfeeding researchlactationRac1treating cancerUniversity of Sheffield
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

What to expect for World Breastfeeding in Public Day 2023 – live interview with The Breastfeeding Mentor

Next Post

Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

Curated

Curated

Next Post
Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Breastfeeding mother with mastitis

What are the causes and treatment of mastitis?

22 hours ago
Alice Lucken IBCLC

Ep. 44: How to recognise low milk supply

5 days ago

Become a boobingit member today. It's FREE!

Sign up today for the latest breastfeeding information & inspiration.

Sign Up Now!

Trending

Let’s talk about Sex and Breastfeeding

January 10, 2023
Breastfeeding mother with mastitis

What are the causes and treatment of mastitis?

November 27, 2023
Alice Lucken IBCLC

Ep. 44: How to recognise low milk supply

November 23, 2023
Gift guide for breastfeeding mothers - Boob Bling stackable ring

The best Christmas gift guide for breastfeeding mothers

November 22, 2023
Breastfeeding my twins is the greatest gift I could have given

Breastfeeding my twins is the greatest gift I could have given

November 21, 2023
Black Friday 2023 deals on Amazon - Babymoov monitor

Amazon Black Friday deals for new parents – 2023 edition

November 17, 2023
Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Articles
    • Breastfeeding benefits
    • Breastfeeding challenges
    • Latest research
    • Pregnancy + Birth
    • Products + Reviews
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • Support
    • Tips + Advice
    • Giveaways
  • Guides
    • Breastfeeding after giving birth
    • Breastfeeding in public
    • Breastfeeding a toddler
    • Breastfeeding after a c-section
    • Breastfeeding multiples
    • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
    • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
    • Breastfeeding at Christmas
    • Expressing milk
    • Mastitis
    • Milk donation
    • Breastfeeding and teething
    • Milk supply
    • Tongue Tie in babies
    • Returning to work
    • Stopping breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding aversion
    • Breastfeeding positions
    • Breast pumps
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now