myoepithelial cell

Introduction

Spindle- or stellate shaped, contractile, smooth muscle cells of epithelial origin around:

• sweat glands
• mammary glands
• lacrimal glands
• salivary glands
• other glands, including prostate

In mammary gland, ducts are formed by two layers:

• luminal epithelial cells
• myoepithelial cells surrounding luminal epithelial cells enclosed by basement membrane.

Myoepithelial cells also form the epithelium of the posterior surface of the iris.

Some myoepithelial cell specific proteins involved in tumor suppression include activin, relaxin, TIMP-1, maspin, connexin-43, caveolin-1, integrin alpha-6, cytokeratin 5 & smooth muscle alpha-actin.

More general terms

• epithelial cell