Issues

The cover image shows a crown-like structure characterized by a necrotic adipocyte surrounded by macrophages in the mammary gland of an obese mouse. Macrophages were detected by immunohistochemical staining for F4/80. These inflammatory foci were previously described in visceral and subcutaneous fat of obese humans and mice but have not been reported for breast tissue. This image relates to a study (reported in this issue of the journal) of the obesity→inflammation→aromatase axis in the mammary gland and visceral fat that provides the first evidence suggesting a link between obesity, local inflammation in the mammary gland and risk of breast cancer. See articles by Subbaramaiah et al. (beginning on page 329) and Hursting (beginning on page 285) for more information.