Tissue-resident CD8 + T cells link pregnancy to breast cancer protection

07 Jul 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

We discovered that pregnancy promotes the expansion of tissue-resident memory-like CD8 + T (T RM -like) cells in the mammary gland. This expansion is driven by mammary gland alveologenesis and cytokines produced by mammary epithelial cells. Depletion of T RM -like cells abolished pregnancy-associated protection against breast cancer, whereas expansion of these cells conferred protection. Access to this article via Institution of Civil Engineers Library is not available. Britt, K. L. et al. Key steps for effective breast cancer prevention.
Nat. Rev. Cancer 8 , 417–436 (2020). A review article that highlights the influence of pregnancy on breast cancer protection. Rosenberg, L. et al. Childbirth and breast cancer prognosis. Int.
J. Cancer 111 , 772–776 (2004). A review article that highlights the link between childbirth and breast cancer. Corral, D. et al. Mammary intraepithelial lymphocytes promote lactogenesis and offspring fitness. Cell 188 , 1662–1680 (2025). This paper was the first to report the role of IELs in lactogenesis.
Jaquish, A. et al. Mammary intraepithelial lymphocytes and intestinal inputs shape T cell dynamics in lactogenesis. Nat. Immunol. 26 , 1411–1422 (2025).