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Koskinen LM, Nieminen L, Arjonen A, Guzmán C, Peurla M, Peuhu E. Spatial Engineering of Mammary Epithelial Cell Cultures with 3D Bioprinting Reveals Growth Control by Branch Point Proximity. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2024; 29:5. [PMID: 38416267 PMCID: PMC10902034 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-024-09557-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the ductal epithelium and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) are integral aspects of the breast tissue, and they have important roles during mammary gland development, function and malignancy. However, the architecture of the branched mammary epithelial network is poorly recapitulated in the current in vitro models. 3D bioprinting is an emerging approach to improve tissue-mimicry in cell culture. Here, we developed and optimized a protocol for 3D bioprinting of normal and cancerous mammary epithelial cells into a branched Y-shape to study the role of cell positioning in the regulation of cell proliferation and invasion. Non-cancerous cells formed continuous 3D cell networks with several organotypic features, whereas the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) -like cancer cells exhibited aberrant basal polarization and defective formation of the basement membrane (BM). Quantitative analysis over time demonstrated that both normal and cancerous cells proliferate more at the branch tips compared to the trunk region of the 3D-bioprinted cultures, and particularly at the tip further away from the branch point. The location-specific rate of proliferation was independent of TGFβ signaling but invasion of the DCIS-like breast cancer cells was reduced upon the inhibition of TGFβ. Thus, our data demonstrate that the 3D-bioprinted cells can sense their position in the branched network of cells and proliferate at the tips, thus recapitulating this feature of mammary epithelial branching morphogenesis. In all, our results demonstrate the capacity of the developed 3D bioprinting method for quantitative analysis of the relationships between tissue structure and cell behavior in breast morphogenesis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena M Koskinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, Cancer Laboratory FICAN West, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | | | | | | | - Markus Peurla
- Institute of Biomedicine, Cancer Laboratory FICAN West, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Emilia Peuhu
- Institute of Biomedicine, Cancer Laboratory FICAN West, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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2
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Schaeberle CM, Bouffard VA, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. Modeling Mammary Organogenesis from Biological First Principles: A Systems Biology Approach. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2745:177-188. [PMID: 38060186 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3577-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Stromal-epithelial interactions mediate mammary gland development and the formation and progression of breast cancer. To study these interactions in vitro, 3D models are essential. We have successfully developed novel 3D in vitro models that allow the formation of mammary gland structures closely resembling those found in vivo and that respond to the hormonal cues that regulate mammary gland morphogenesis and function. Due to their simplicity when compared to in vivo studies, and to their accessibility to visualization in real time, these models are well suited to conceptual and mathematical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ana M Soto
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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3
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Doffe F, Bonini F, Lakis E, Terry S, Chouaib S, Savagner P. Designing Organoid Models to Monitor Cancer Progression, Plasticity and Resistance: The Right Set Up for the Right Question. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153559. [PMID: 35892818 PMCID: PMC9330027 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent trend in 3D cell modeling has fostered the emergence of a wide range of models, addressing very distinct goals ranging from the fundamental exploration of cell–cell interactions to preclinical assays for personalized medicine. It is clear that no single model will recapitulate the complexity and dynamics of in vivo situations. The key is to define the critical points, achieve a specific goal and design a model where they can be validated. In this report, we focused on cancer progression. We describe our model which is designed to emulate breast carcinoma progression during the invasive phase. We chose to provide topological clues to the target cells by growing them on microsupports, favoring a polarized epithelial organization before they are embedded in a 3D matrix. We then watched for cell organization and differentiation for these models, adding stroma cells then immune cells to follow and quantify cell responses to drug treatment, including quantifying cell death and viability, as well as morphogenic and invasive properties. We used model cell lines including Comma Dβ, MCF7 and MCF10A mammary epithelial cells as well as primary breast cancer cells from patient-derived xenografts (PDX). We found that fibroblasts impacted cell response to Docetaxel and Palbociclib. We also found that NK92 immune cells could target breast cancer cells within the 3D configuration, providing quantitative monitoring of cell cytotoxicity. We also tested several sources for the extracellular matrix and selected a hyaluronan-based matrix as a promising alternative to mouse tumor basement membrane extracts for primary human cancer cells. Overall, we validated a new 3D model designed for breast cancer for preclinical use in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Doffe
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France; (F.D.); (S.T.); (S.C.)
| | - Fabien Bonini
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | | | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France; (F.D.); (S.T.); (S.C.)
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France; (F.D.); (S.T.); (S.C.)
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates
| | - Pierre Savagner
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France; (F.D.); (S.T.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence:
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4
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Hasan N, Zhang Y, Georgakoudi I, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. Matrix Composition Modulates Vitamin D3's Effects on 3D Collagen Fiber Organization by MCF10A Cells. Tissue Eng Part A 2021; 27:1399-1410. [PMID: 33789436 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2020.0371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D3 (vitD3) has been implicated in various cellular functions affecting multiple tissue types. Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that vitD3 may be effective as a preventive or therapeutic option for breast cancer. However, randomized clinical trials have yet to confirm these suggestions. Breast neoplasias can arise from developmental alterations; based on this evidence, we seek to understand vitD3's role in normal breast development, particularly its role in epithelial morphogenetic processes such as ductal elongation, branching, and alveolar formation. These processes require extensive changes in the extracellular microenvironment, such as collagen fiber organization, and are largely influenced by hormones. Here, we build upon our past work to shed light on calcitriol's effects on collagen fiber organization by breast epithelial cells, and how such effects are modulated by extracellular matrix composition. We embedded MCF10A normal human breast epithelial cells in two different matrices-collagen type I and collagen type I + 10% Matrigel; treatment with calcitriol resulted in flatter epithelial structures. Next, using two-photon microscopy, we examined changes in collagen fiber organization and corresponding changes in epithelial structures. Applying a novel three-dimensional (3D) image analysis method, we show that increasing doses of calcitriol result in denser collagen fiber bundles in the localized area surrounding the epithelial structures, and that these bundles are aligned in a more parallel direction to epithelial structures when exposed to the highest vitD3 dose. Changed patterns in fiber organization may explain the flattening of epithelial structures; in turn, changes in biophysical forces in the matrix abutting these structures may be responsible for changes in the referred patterns. Addition of 10% Matrigel dampened the effects of calcitriol on both epithelial morphogenesis and fiber organization. Overall, we report novel functions of calcitriol in the breast epithelium and add to the growing body of evidence documenting how hormones affect biophysical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafis Hasan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Irene Georgakoudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ana M Soto
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Githaka JM, Tripathi N, Kirschenman R, Patel N, Pandya V, Kramer DA, Montpetit R, Zhu LF, Sonenberg N, Fahlman RP, Danial NN, Underhill DA, Goping IS. BAD regulates mammary gland morphogenesis by 4E-BP1-mediated control of localized translation in mouse and human models. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2939. [PMID: 34011960 PMCID: PMC8134504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23269-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of non-canonical protein functions can identify novel tissue homeostasis pathways. Herein, we describe a role for the Bcl-2 family member BAD in postnatal mammary gland morphogenesis. In Bad3SA knock-in mice, where BAD cannot undergo phosphorylation at 3 key serine residues, pubertal gland development is delayed due to aberrant tubulogenesis of the ductal epithelium. Proteomic and RPPA analyses identify that BAD regulates focal adhesions and the mRNA translation repressor, 4E-BP1. These results suggest that BAD modulates localized translation that drives focal adhesion maturation and cell motility. Consistent with this, cells within Bad3SA organoids contain unstable protrusions with decreased compartmentalized mRNA translation and focal adhesions, and exhibit reduced cell migration and tubulogenesis. Critically, protrusion stability is rescued by 4E-BP1 depletion. Together our results confirm an unexpected role of BAD in controlling localized translation and cell migration during mammary gland development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Maringa Githaka
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Namita Tripathi
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Raven Kirschenman
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Namrata Patel
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Vrajesh Pandya
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - David A. Kramer
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Rachel Montpetit
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Lin Fu Zhu
- grid.17089.37Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Richard P. Fahlman
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Nika N. Danial
- grid.65499.370000 0001 2106 9910Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA USA
| | - D. Alan Underhill
- grid.17089.37Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Ing Swie Goping
- grid.17089.37Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada ,grid.17089.37Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
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6
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Wang Z, Li Q, Xu L, Ma J, Wei B, An Z, Wu W, Liu S. Silver nanoparticles compromise the development of mouse pubertal mammary glands through disrupting internal estrogen signaling. Nanotoxicology 2020; 14:740-756. [PMID: 32401081 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2020.1755470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite numerous studies on the environmental health and safety (EHS) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), most studies looked into their gross toxicities with rather limited understanding on their labyrinthine implicit effects on the target sites, such as the endocrine system. Burgeoning evidence documents the disrupting effects of AgNPs on endocrine functions; however, little research has been invested to recognize the potential impacts on the mammary gland, a susceptible estrogen-responsive organ. Under this setting, we here aimed to scrutinize AgNP-induced effects on the development of pubertal mammary glands at various concentrations that bear significant EHS relevance. We unearthed that AgNPs could accumulate in mouse mammary glands and result in a decrease in the percentage of ducts and terminal ducts in the adult mice after chronic exposure. Strikingly, smaller sized AgNPs showed greater capability to alter the pubertal mammary development than larger sized particles. Intriguingly, mechanistic investigation revealed that the reduction of epithelial proliferation in response to AgNPs was ascribed to reduced ERα expression, which, at least partially, accounted for diseased epithelial morphology in mammary glands. Meanwhile, the decline in fibrous collagen deposition around the epithelium was found to contribute to the compromised development of mammary glands under the exposure of AgNPs. Moreover, as an extension of the mechanism, AgNPs diminished serum levels of estradiol in exposed animals. Together, these results uncovered a novel toxicity feature of AgNPs: compromised development of mouse pubertal mammary glands through the endocrine-disrupting actions. This study would open a new avenue to unveil the EHS impacts of AgNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Qingqing Li
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Lining Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Juan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Bing Wei
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Zhen An
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Weidong Wu
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, PR China
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
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7
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Noguera R, Burgos-Panadero R, Gamero-Sandemetrio E, de la Cruz-Merino L, Álvaro Naranjo T. [An integral view of cancer (I). The study, classification and reprogramming of the tumoral microclimate]. REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE PATOLOGÍA : PUBLICACIÓN OFICIAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE ANATOMÍA PATOLÓGICA Y DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE CITOLOGÍA 2019; 52:92-102. [PMID: 30902384 DOI: 10.1016/j.patol.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The group of diseases that we call cancer share a biological structure formed by a complex ecosystem, with altered intercellular communication, information fields, development and tissue function. Beyond the genetic alterations of the tumor cell, the demonstration of an altered ecosystem, with interconnections at systemic levels, opens up a new perspective on cancer biology and behavior. Different tumor facets, such as morphology, classification, clinical aggressiveness, prognosis and response to treatment now appear under a comprehensive vision that offers a new horizon of study, research and clinical management. The Somatic Mutation Theory in cancer, in force for more than one hundred years, is now completed by the study of the tumor microenvironment, the extracellular matrix, the stromal cells, the immune response, the innervation, the nutrition, the mitochondria, the metabolism, the interstitial fluid, the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of the tissue and many other areas of emerging knowledge; thus opening the door to a reprogramming exercise of the tumor phenotype through the modification of the keys offered by this new paradigm. Its recognition makes it possible to go from considering the oncological process as a cellular problem to a supracellular alteration based on the disorganization of tissues, immersed in the relationships of the complex system of the living being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Noguera
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia/Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias INCLIVA, Valencia, España; CIBERONC, Madrid, España
| | - Rebeca Burgos-Panadero
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia/Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias INCLIVA, Valencia, España; CIBERONC, Madrid, España
| | - Esther Gamero-Sandemetrio
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia/Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias INCLIVA, Valencia, España; CIBERONC, Madrid, España
| | | | - Tomás Álvaro Naranjo
- CIBERONC, Madrid, España; Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Tarragona, España.
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8
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Liu Z, Speroni L, Quinn KP, Alonzo C, Pouli D, Zhang Y, Stuntz E, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM, Georgakoudi I. 3D organizational mapping of collagen fibers elucidates matrix remodeling in a hormone-sensitive 3D breast tissue model. Biomaterials 2018; 179:96-108. [PMID: 29980078 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hormones play an important role in normal and diseased breast tissue development. However, they can also disrupt cell-matrix interactions and their role in extracellular matrix reorganization during epithelial morphogenesis remains poorly understood, partly due to a lack of sensitive approaches for matrix characterization. Here, we assess the hormonal regulation of matrix reorganization in a three-dimensional (3D) breast tissue culture model using a novel metric, i.e., 3D directional variance, to characterize the 3D organization of collagen fibers visualized via high-resolution, second harmonic generation imaging. This metric enables resolving and quantifying patterns of spatial organization throughout the matrix surrounding epithelial structures treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) alone, and E2 in combination with either promegestone, a progestogen, or prolactin. Addition of promegestone results in the most disorganized fibers, while the E2 alone treatment leads to the most organized ones. Location-dependent organization mapping indicates that only the prolactin treatment leads to significant heterogeneities in the regional organization of collagen fibers, with higher levels of alignment observed at the end of the elongated epithelial structures. The observed collagen organization patterns for all groups persist for tens of micrometers. In addition, a comparison between 3D directional variance and typical 2D analysis approaches reveals an improved sensitivity of the 3D metric to identify organizational heterogeneities and differences among treatment groups. These results demonstrate that 3D directional variance is sensitive to subtle changes in the extracellular micro-environment and has the potential to elucidate reciprocal cell-matrix interactions in the context of numerous applications involving the study of normal and diseased tissue morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lucia Speroni
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Kyle P Quinn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Carlo Alonzo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Dimitra Pouli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Emily Stuntz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Ana M Soto
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Irene Georgakoudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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9
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Sweeney MF, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. Characterization of MCF-12A cell phenotype, response to estrogens, and growth in 3D. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:43. [PMID: 29559854 PMCID: PMC5859508 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0534-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Three-dimensional cultures of mammary epithelial cells allow for biologically-relevant studies of the development of the mammary gland in rodents and humans under normal and pathological conditions, like carcinogenesis. Under these conditions, mammotropic hormones play significant roles in tissue morphogenesis. Therefore, a system that recreates the normal, hormonally responsive epithelium would be a valuable tool to study the normal state and its transition to carcinogenesis. MCF-12A cells have been claimed to be non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells with reported sensitivity to estrogens. In this study, we aimed at characterizing MCF-12A cells for use in a hormone-responsive 3D culture system to determine their usefulness as a tool to identify normal and abnormal microenvironmental cues. Methods MCF-12A cells were single-cell cloned in order to investigate their heterogeneous makeup. The parental cells were then treated with estradiol to investigate proliferative and transcriptional responses through the estrogen receptor alpha. Finally, parental cells and epithelial-like cell-derived clones were seeded in rat-tail collagen I to profile the morphogenesis of multicellular 3D structures. The resultant structures were then analyzed using unsupervised morphometric analysis. Results MCF-12A cells consist of epithelial-like colonies which shed elongated, freely growing cells on the colony's edges. The cells express E-cadherin as well as mesenchymal vimentin but do not express markers associated with myoepithelial cells or fibroblasts. Treatment with estradiol does not affect either the proliferation rate or the induction of gene expression in MCF-12A cells. Parental MCF-12A cells form acini, solid spheres and elongated branching ducts when grown in rat-tail collagen type I matrix, the geometries and distribution of which are altered following the removal of fibroblast-like cells. Conclusions MCF-12A cells are a heterogeneous pseudo-epithelial cell line capable of forming a variety of multicellular structures in 3D culture. We found no indication that the cells display estrogen-responsive characteristics, thus refuting previous studies which reported estrogen responsiveness. We report that MCF-12A cells are not suited for use in studies in which differential behaviors of "normal" and "cancerous" estrogen-responsive cells are to be compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Sweeney
- 1Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- 2Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Ana M Soto
- 2Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111 USA
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10
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Characterization of primary human mammary epithelial cells isolated and propagated by conditional reprogrammed cell culture. Oncotarget 2017; 9:11503-11514. [PMID: 29545915 PMCID: PMC5837767 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Conditional reprogramming methods allow for the inexhaustible in vitro proliferation of primary epithelial cells from human tissue specimens. This methodology has the potential to enhance the utility of primary cell culture as a model for mammary gland research. However, few studies have systematically characterized this method in generating in vitro normal human mammary epithelial cell models. Results We show that cells derived from fresh normal breast tissues can be propagated and exhibit heterogeneous morphologic features. The cultures are composed of CK18, desmoglein 3, and CK19-positive luminal cells and vimentin, p63, and CK14-positive myoepithelial cells, suggesting the maintenance of in vivo heterogeneity. In addition, the cultures contain subpopulations with different CD49f and EpCAM expression profiles. When grown in 3D conditions, cells self-organize into distinct structures that express either luminal or basal cell markers. Among these structures, CK8-positive cells enclosing a lumen are capable of differentiation into milk-producing cells in the presence of lactogenic stimulus. Furthermore, our short-term cultures retain the expression of ERα, as well as its ability to respond to estrogen stimulation. Materials and Methods We have investigated conditionally reprogrammed normal epithelial cells in terms of cell type heterogeneity, cellular marker expression, and structural arrangement in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) systems. Conclusions The conditional reprogramming methodology allows generation of a heterogeneous culture from normal human mammary tissue in vitro. We believe that this cell culture model will provide a valuable tool to study mammary cell function and malignant transformation.
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11
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Montévil M, Speroni L, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. Modeling mammary organogenesis from biological first principles: Cells and their physical constraints. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 122:58-69. [PMID: 27544910 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, relations among parts and between parts and the whole are contextual and interdependent. These organisms and their cells are ontogenetically linked: an organism starts as a cell that divides producing non-identical cells, which organize in tri-dimensional patterns. These association patterns and cells types change as tissues and organs are formed. This contextuality and circularity makes it difficult to establish detailed cause and effect relationships. Here we propose an approach to overcome these intrinsic difficulties by combining the use of two models; 1) an experimental one that employs 3D culture technology to obtain the structures of the mammary gland, namely, ducts and acini, and 2) a mathematical model based on biological principles. The typical approach for mathematical modeling in biology is to apply mathematical tools and concepts developed originally in physics or computer sciences. Instead, we propose to construct a mathematical model based on proper biological principles. Specifically, we use principles identified as fundamental for the elaboration of a theory of organisms, namely i) the default state of cell proliferation with variation and motility and ii) the principle of organization by closure of constraints. This model has a biological component, the cells, and a physical component, a matrix which contains collagen fibers. Cells display agency and move and proliferate unless constrained; they exert mechanical forces that i) act on collagen fibers and ii) on other cells. As fibers organize, they constrain the cells on their ability to move and to proliferate. The model exhibits a circularity that can be interpreted in terms of closure of constraints. Implementing the mathematical model shows that constraints to the default state are sufficient to explain ductal and acinar formation, and points to a target of future research, namely, to inhibitors of cell proliferation and motility generated by the epithelial cells. The success of this model suggests a step-wise approach whereby additional constraints imposed by the tissue and the organism could be examined in silico and rigorously tested by in vitro and in vivo experiments, in accordance with the organicist perspective we embrace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maël Montévil
- Laboratoire "Matière et Systèmes Complexes" (MSC), UMR 7057 CNRS, Université Paris 7 Diderot, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France; Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques (IHPST) - UMR 8590, 13, rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Lucia Speroni
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Centre Cavaillès, École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France; Institut d'Etudes Avancées de Nantes, France.
| | - Ana M Soto
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Centre Cavaillès, République des Savoirs, CNRS USR3608, Collège de France et École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France.
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12
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Speroni L, Sweeney MF, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. A Hormone-responsive 3D Culture Model of the Human Mammary Gland Epithelium. J Vis Exp 2016:e53098. [PMID: 26891095 DOI: 10.3791/53098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of mammary epithelial morphogenesis is influenced by hormones. The study of hormone action on the breast epithelium using 2D cultures is limited to cell proliferation and gene expression endpoints. However, in the organism, mammary morphogenesis occurs in a 3D environment. 3D culture systems help bridge the gap between monolayer cell culture (2D) and the complexity of the organism. Herein, we describe a 3D culture model of the human breast epithelium that is suitable to study hormone action. It uses the commercially available hormone-responsive human breast epithelial cell line, T47D, and rat tail collagen type 1 as a matrix. This 3D culture model responds to the main mammotropic hormones: estradiol, progestins and prolactin. The influence of these hormones on epithelial morphogenesis can be observed after 1- or 2-week treatment according to the endpoint. The 3D cultures can be harvested for analysis of epithelial morphogenesis, cell proliferation and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Speroni
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine
| | - Michael F Sweeney
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine
| | - Ana M Soto
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine;
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13
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Qu Y, Han B, Yu Y, Yao W, Bose S, Karlan BY, Giuliano AE, Cui X. Evaluation of MCF10A as a Reliable Model for Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131285. [PMID: 26147507 PMCID: PMC4493126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women worldwide. Various cell models have been developed to study breast cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug sensitivity. The MCF10A human mammary epithelial cell line is a widely used in vitro model for studying normal breast cell function and transformation. However, there is limited knowledge about whether MCF10A cells reliably represent normal human mammary cells. MCF10A cells were grown in monolayer, suspension (mammosphere culture), three-dimensional (3D) “on-top” Matrigel, 3D “cell-embedded” Matrigel, or mixed Matrigel/collagen I gel. Suspension culture was performed with the MammoCult medium and low-attachment culture plates. Cells grown in 3D culture were fixed and subjected to either immunofluorescence staining or embedding and sectioning followed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Cells or slides were stained for protein markers commonly used to identify mammary progenitor and epithelial cells. MCF10A cells expressed markers representing luminal, basal, and progenitor phenotypes in two-dimensional (2D) culture. When grown in suspension culture, MCF10A cells showed low mammosphere-forming ability. Cells in mammospheres and 3D culture expressed both luminal and basal markers. Surprisingly, the acinar structure formed by MCF10A cells in 3D culture was positive for both basal markers and the milk proteins β-casein and α-lactalbumin. MCF10A cells exhibit a unique differentiated phenotype in 3D culture which may not exist or be rare in normal human breast tissue. Our results raise a question as to whether the commonly used MCF10A cell line is a suitable model for human mammary cell studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Qu
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Bingchen Han
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Yi Yu
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Weiwu Yao
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Shikha Bose
- Department of Pathology, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Beth Y. Karlan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Cancer Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Armando E. Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Cancer Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Vidi PA, Leary JF, Lelièvre SA. Building risk-on-a-chip models to improve breast cancer risk assessment and prevention. Integr Biol (Camb) 2014; 5:1110-8. [PMID: 23681255 DOI: 10.1039/c3ib40053k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Preventive actions for chronic diseases hold the promise of improving lives and reducing healthcare costs. For several diseases, including breast cancer, multiple risk and protective factors have been identified by epidemiologists. The impact of most of these factors has yet to be fully understood at the organism, tissue, cellular and molecular levels. Importantly, combinations of external and internal risk and protective factors involve cooperativity thus, synergizing or antagonizing disease onset. Models are needed to mechanistically decipher cancer risks under defined cellular and microenvironmental conditions. Here, we briefly review breast cancer risk models based on 3D cell culture and propose to improve risk modeling with lab-on-a-chip approaches. We suggest epithelial tissue polarity, DNA repair and epigenetic profiles as endpoints in risk assessment models and discuss the development of 'risks-on-chips' integrating biosensors of these endpoints and of general tissue homeostasis. Risks-on-chips will help identify biomarkers of risk, serve as screening platforms for cancer preventive agents, and provide a better understanding of risk mechanisms, hence resulting in novel developments in disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Alexandre Vidi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, Lynn Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026, USA.
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15
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Barnes C, Speroni L, Quinn KP, Montevil M, Saetzler K, Bode-Animashaun G, McKerr G, Georgakoudi I, Downes CS, Sonnenschein C, Howard CV, Soto AM. From single cells to tissues: interactions between the matrix and human breast cells in real time. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93325. [PMID: 24691468 PMCID: PMC3972096 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammary gland morphogenesis involves ductal elongation, branching, and budding. All of these processes are mediated by stroma--epithelium interactions. Biomechanical factors, such as matrix stiffness, have been established as important factors in these interactions. For example, epithelial cells fail to form normal acinar structures in vitro in 3D gels that exceed the stiffness of a normal mammary gland. Additionally, heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of acini and ducts within individual collagen gels suggests that local organization of the matrix may guide morphogenesis. Here, we quantified the effects of both bulk material stiffness and local collagen fiber arrangement on epithelial morphogenesis. RESULTS The formation of ducts and acini from single cells and the reorganization of the collagen fiber network were quantified using time-lapse confocal microscopy. MCF10A cells organized the surrounding collagen fibers during the first twelve hours after seeding. Collagen fiber density and alignment relative to the epithelial surface significantly increased within the first twelve hours and were a major influence in the shaping of the mammary epithelium. The addition of Matrigel to the collagen fiber network impaired cell-mediated reorganization of the matrix and increased the probability of spheroidal acini rather than branching ducts. The mechanical anisotropy created by regions of highly aligned collagen fibers facilitated elongation and branching, which was significantly correlated with fiber organization. In contrast, changes in bulk stiffness were not a strong predictor of this epithelial morphology. CONCLUSIONS Localized regions of collagen fiber alignment are required for ductal elongation and branching suggesting the importance of local mechanical anisotropy in mammary epithelial morphogenesis. Similar principles may govern the morphology of branching and budding in other tissues and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford Barnes
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Speroni
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kyle P. Quinn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mael Montevil
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kurt Saetzler
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | | | - George McKerr
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Georgakoudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - C. Stephen Downes
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - C. Vyvyan Howard
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - Ana M. Soto
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, United Kingdom
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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16
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Speroni L, Whitt GS, Xylas J, Quinn KP, Jondeau-Cabaton A, Barnes C, Georgakoudi I, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. Hormonal regulation of epithelial organization in a three-dimensional breast tissue culture model. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2013; 20:42-51. [PMID: 23675751 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2013.0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of hormone target breast cells in the 1970's resulted in suitable models for the study of hormone control of cell proliferation and gene expression using two-dimensional (2D) cultures. However, to study mammogenesis and breast tumor development in vitro, cells must be able to organize in three-dimensional (3D) structures like in the tissue. We now report the development of a hormone-sensitive 3D culture model for the study of mammogenesis and neoplastic development. Hormone-sensitive T47D breast cancer cells respond to estradiol in a dose-dependent manner by forming complex epithelial structures. Treatment with the synthetic progestagen promegestone, in the presence of estradiol, results in flat epithelial structures that display cytoplasmic projections, a phenomenon reported to precede side-branching. Additionally, as in the mammary gland, treatment with prolactin in the presence of estradiol induces budding structures. These changes in epithelial organization are accompanied by collagen remodeling. Collagen is the major acellular component of the breast stroma and an important player in tumor development and progression. Quantitative analysis of second harmonic generation of collagen fibers revealed that collagen density was more variable surrounding budding and irregularly shaped structures when compared to more regular structures; suggesting that fiber organization in the former is more anisotropic than in the latter. In sum, this new 3D model recapitulates morphogenetic events modulated by mammogenic hormones in the breast, and is suitable for the evaluation of therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Speroni
- 1 Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Program, Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine , Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Soto AM, Brisken C, Schaeberle C, Sonnenschein C. Does cancer start in the womb? altered mammary gland development and predisposition to breast cancer due to in utero exposure to endocrine disruptors. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2013; 18:199-208. [PMID: 23702822 PMCID: PMC3933259 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-013-9293-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We are now witnessing a resurgence of theories of development and carcinogenesis in which the environment is again being accepted as a major player in phenotype determination. Perturbations in the fetal environment predispose an individual to disease that only becomes apparent in adulthood. For example, gestational exposure to diethylstilbestrol resulted in clear cell carcinoma of the vagina and breast cancer. In this review the effects of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A (BPA) on mammary development and tumorigenesis in rodents is used as a paradigmatic example of how altered prenatal mammary development may lead to breast cancer in humans who are also widely exposed to it through plastic goods, food and drink packaging, and thermal paper receipts. Changes in the stroma and its extracellular matrix led to altered ductal morphogenesis. Additionally, gestational and lactational exposure to BPA increased the sensitivity of rats and mice to mammotropic hormones during puberty and beyond, thus suggesting a plausible explanation for the increased incidence of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. Soto
- Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
- Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cathrin Brisken
- Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, ISREC - Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, NCCR Molecular Oncology, SV2832 Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cheryl Schaeberle
- Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
- Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA, USA
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