Name: a hormone-responsive 3d culture model of the human mammary gland epithelium
Uploaded: 2016-02-07T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Hormone-responsive 3D Culture Model of the Human Mammary Gland Epithelium at JoVE.com

We greatly appreciate the editorial contributions by Cheryl Schaeberle. This research was supported by Avon Grants #02-2009-093 and 02-2011-095, and NIEHS/NIH ES 08314 to AMS. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences or the National Institutes of Health.

1. Preparation of Reagents
<ol>
	<li>Dissolve the synthetic progestagen promegestone (R5020) and 17-&#946;-estradiol (E2) in ethanol to make 10-3 M stock solutions. Dissolve prolactin in distilled deionized water to make a 1 mg/ml stock solution. Dissolve the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 in DMSO to make a 10-2M stock solution. Store these solutions at -20 &#176; C for up to 6 months.</li>
	<li>Charcoal dextran (CD) stripped serum and CDFBS medium:
	<ol>
		<li>Heat-inactivate fetal bovine serum (FBS) i...

<ol>
	<li>Barnes, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+single+cells+to+tissues:+interactions+between+the+matrix+and+human+breast+cells+in+real+time.">From single cells to tissues: interactions between the matrix and human breast cells in real time.</a> PLoS ONE. 9, e93325 (2014).</li><li>Berthois, Y., Katzenellenbogen, J. A., Katzenellenbogen, B. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phenol+red+in+tissue+culture+is+a+weak+estrogen:+implications+concerning+the+study+of+estrogen+responsive+cells+in+culture.">Phenol red in tissue culture is a weak estrogen: implications concerning the study of estrogen responsive cells in culture.</a> Proc.Nat.Acad.Sci.USA. 83, 2496-2500 (1986).</li><li>Chalbos, D., Vignon, F., Keydar, I., Rochefort, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Estrogens+stimulate+cell+proliferation+and+induce+secretory+proteins+in+a+human+breast+cancer+cell+line+(T47D).">Estrogens stimulate cell proliferation and induce secretory proteins in a human breast cancer cell line (T47D).</a> J.Clin.Endocrinol.Metab. 55, 276-283 (1982).</li><li>Dhimolea, E., Maffini, M. V., Soto, A. M., Sonnenschein, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+collagen+reorganization+on+mammary+epithelial+morphogenesis+in+a+3D+culture+model.">The role of collagen reorganization on mammary epithelial morphogenesis in a 3D culture model.</a> Biomaterials. 31, 3622-3630 (2010).</li><li>Dhimolea, E., Soto, A. M., Sonnenschein, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Breast+epithelial+tissue+morphology+is+affected+in+3D+cultures+by+species-specific+collagen-based+extracellular+matrix.">Breast epithelial tissue morphology is affected in 3D cultures by species-specific collagen-based extracellular matrix.</a> J.Biomed.Mat.Res.A. 100, 2905-2912 (2012).</li><li>Krause, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual+regulation+of+breast+tubulogenesis+using+extracellular+matrix+composition+and+stromal+cells.">Dual regulation of breast tubulogenesis using extracellular matrix composition and stromal cells.</a> Tissue Eng Part A. 18, 520-532 (2012).</li><li>Krause, S., Maffini, M. V., Soto, A. M., Sonnenschein, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+3D+in+vitro.+culture+model+to+study+stromal-epithelial+interactions+in+the+mammary+gland.">A novel 3D in vitro. culture model to study stromal-epithelial interactions in the mammary gland.</a> Tissue Eng.Part C Methods. 14, 261-271 (2008).</li><li>Krause, S., Maffini, M. V., Soto, A. M., Sonnenschein, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+microenvironment+determines+the+breast+cancer+cells'+phenotype:+organization+of+MCF7+cells+in+3D+cultures.">The microenvironment determines the breast cancer cells' phenotype: organization of MCF7 cells in 3D cultures.</a> BMC Cancer. 10, 263-275 (2010).</li><li>Lee, G. Y., Kenny, P. A., Lee, E. H., Bissell, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three-dimensional+culture+models+of+normal+and+malignant+breast+epithelial+cells.">Three-dimensional culture models of normal and malignant breast epithelial cells.</a> Nat.Methods. 4, 359-365 (2007).</li><li>Martinson, H. A., Jindal, S., Durand-Rougely, C., Borges, V. F., Schedin, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wound+healing-like+immune+program+facilitates+postpartum+mammary+gland+involution+and+tumor+progression.">Wound healing-like immune program facilitates postpartum mammary gland involution and tumor progression.</a> Int.J.Cancer. , (2014).</li><li>Soto, A. M., Murai, J. T., Siiteri, P. K., Sonnenschein, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Control+of+cell+proliferation:+evidence+for+negative+control+on+estrogen-sensitive+T47D+human+breast+cancer+cells.">Control of cell proliferation: evidence for negative control on estrogen-sensitive T47D human breast cancer cells.</a> Cancer Res. 46, 2271-2275 (1986).</li><li>Speroni, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hormonal+regulation+of+epithelial+organization+in+a+3D+breast+tissue+culture+model.">Hormonal regulation of epithelial organization in a 3D breast tissue culture model.</a> Tissue Eng.Part C Methods. 20, 42-51 (2014).</li><li>Vignon, F., Bardon, S., Chalbos, D., Rochefort, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antiestrogenic+effect+of+R5020,+a+synthetic+progestin+in+human+breast+cancer+cells+in+culture.">Antiestrogenic effect of R5020, a synthetic progestin in human breast cancer cells in culture.</a> J.Clin.Endocrinol.Metab. 56, 1124-1130 (1983).</li></ol>

Here, we describe a hormone-sensitive 3D culture model to test the action of hormones on breast epithelium. The response to hormones can be assessed at the tissue morphology, cell proliferation and gene expression levels 12. One limitation of this technique is that visualization during the culture period is restricted to light microscopy since the cultures are grown in a plastic bottom plate. The 3D culture system could be adapted to glass bottom plates to allow for live imaging of the cultures 1.</...

Unlike standard 2D cultures, 3D cell culture surrogate models allow for the study of epithelial cell behavior in a physiologically relevant context, one resembling a tissue. 3D cultures of the mammary gland have helped elucidate many aspects of mammary gland development and neoplasia. However, most of the 3D culture models currently available are unsuitable to study hormone action because the human epithelial cell lines used for the task lack hormone receptor expression 6,7,9.
Herein, we describe a 3D culture model of the human breast epithelium that is suitable to study hormone action 12. This model uses the commercially available hormone-responsive human breast epithelial cell line, T47D 3,11,13, which were originally derived from a pleural effusion obtained from a 54 year old female patient with an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast. We use rat tail collagen type 1 as a matrix. This 3D culture model is appropriate for the study of the action of the three main mammotropic hormones (estradiol, promegestone (an analogue of progesterone), and prolactin) on human breast epithelial cells. Hormone-induced epithelial morphology can be assessed quantitatively over time by morphometric analysis12.
An appropriate seeding density allows these 3D cultures to be kept for 2 weeks. By this time, the development of structures is sufficient for a robust quantitative assessment of hormone action on epithelial morphology. Gels may also be harvested at earlier time points for cell proliferation and gene expression analyses. Additionally, this model is suitable to test the effects of a sequential hormonal treatment; for example, after treatment with estradiol during the first week and replacement with other hormone/combination of hormones during the following week. The effect of estrogenic compounds and antiestrogens, such as ICI 182,780, can also be studied using this 3D culture model 12.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1344">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">12-well Tissue Culture Plates (Falcon)</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">08-772-29</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">15 ml polystyrene conical Tubes</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">14-959-49D</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Activated Charcoal</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">C-5510</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Carmine Alum</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">C1022-100G</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Collagenase, Type 3</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Worthington</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">S0C11784</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Confocal Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">LSM510</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Equiped with HeNe 633nm laser</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Dextran T-70</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Abersham/Pharmacia</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">17-0280-01</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">DMEM/F-12, HEPES, no phenol red&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">11339-021</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Phenol red-free media for hormone use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:22px;width:436px;">DMEM, low glucose, pyruvate, no glutamine, no phenol red</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">11054-020</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Phenol red-free media for hormone use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">17-&#946;-Estradiol</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">EMD Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">3301</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Dissolved in Ethanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Koptec</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">V1001</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Hyclone</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">SH30070.03</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">For use with hormones, must be Charcoal Dextran stripped&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Filters (115ml)</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Nalgene</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">380-0080, 245-0045, 120-0020</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">0.88, 0.45, 0.20 micron, respectively&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Formalin, 10%</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">SF93-20</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">L-Glutamine (200 mM)</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">25030-081</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">ICI 182,780 (fulvestrant)</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">I4409-25MG</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Dissolved in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Microtome&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Leica</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">RM2155</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Tissue embedding media</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">McCormick Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">39502004</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Penicillin</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">7794-10MU</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Dissolved in 10 ml of distilled deionized water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Permount</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">SP15-500</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Phosphate Buffered Saline pH 7.4</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">P3813-10PAK</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Prolactin</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">L4021-50UG</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Dissolved in distilled deionized water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Promegestone</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">NLP004005MG</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Dissolved in Ethanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Rat-Tail Collagen&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">354236</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Lots may contain varying concentrations, note accordingly</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Scalpel</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Miltex</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">4311</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Semi-enclosed Benchtop Tissue Processor</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Leica</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">TP1020</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Sodium Hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">S5881</td>
			<td style="width:488px;">Prepare 1N NaOH stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">StaticMaster Anti-static brush&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Amstat</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">C3500</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Stripette Serological Pipettes&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">4101</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">T-25 flasks</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Corning&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">430168</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Tissue Cassettes</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">15-200-403E</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Wheaton Vials, Glass, 20mL</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">03-341-25D&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:436px;">Xylene&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">95057-822</td>
			<td style="width:488px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a hormone-responsive 3d culture model of the human mammary gland epithelium

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.

Figure 1 summarizes the procedure for preparing the hormone-sensitive 3D cultures. Epithelial structures are observed in whole mounts of gels cultured for 2 weeks in the presence of E2 alone and in combination with other hormones. Only single cells or groups of 2-3 cells are present when no hormones are added to the culture medium (CDFBS medium) (Figure 2). This condition serves as a negative control.
Cells in 3D culture form structures that vary in shape, siz...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Hormone-responsive 3D Culture Model of the Human Mammary Gland Epithelium at JoVE.com

A Hormone-responsive 3D Culture Model of the Human Mammary Gland Epithelium

We describe a 3D culture model of the human breast epithelium that is suitable to study hormone action.

The process of mammary epithelial morphogenesis is influenced by hormones. The study of hormone action on the breast epithelium using 2D cultures is ...

The overall goal of this physiologically-relevant 3D culture method, is to test the action of the main mammogenic hormones on mammary epithelial morphogenesis. This method can help answer key questions in the endocrinology and mammary gland biology fields, such as how do estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin influence mammary epithelial morphogenesis. The main advantage of this standardized method is that hormone-sensitive mammary epithethial cells form 3D structures in response to hormones, in a manner similar to what is observed in vivo.The implications of this technique extend toward breast cancer therapies, as it is a physiologically-relevant culture system of the complex human breast epithelium. We first had the idea for this method because we notice how lack of standardized in vitro models for studying how human breast morphogenesis is influenced by hormones. Begin by counting the number of cells in a single cell suspension of T47D cells.The way the cells are maintained is critical for retention of hormone-responsive phenotypes. We recommend frequent checks for a trial responsiveness in the T47D cells, on the fourth passage after thawing a new vial, and every ten passages thereafter. Then spin down 75, 000 cells per gel.And use a cold pipette to gently resuspend the pellet in 1.5 milliliters of collagen per gel without bubbles. Next, use a static-reducing brush to wipe the borders top and bottom of a 12-well plate. And place the plate on top of another empty static-reduced 12-well plate.The presence of static electricity during the preparation of the gel may affect the distribution of the cells, causing cells to sink to the bottom during gel laying, and grow as a 2D model layer. When the plate is ready, gently more 1.5 milliliters of the cell collagen mixture into each well. And place the plate in a 37 degree Celsius incubator.After 30 minutes, add 1.5 milliliters of freshly-prepared cdFBS medium supplemented with hormones to each well. And use a sterile P200 pipette tip to carefully detach each gel from the border of the well with a gentle circular motion. Then, place the 3D cultures in a 37 degree Celsius, 5%CO2, 100%humidity tissue culture incubator for one to two weeks, changing the media every two days.To process the gels for whole mounting, replace the medium in each well with 1.5 milliliters of PBS. Then, transfer one gel at a time to a slide, and use a curved surgical blade to cut each gel in half. Transfer one half of the gels to individual slides to try.After five minutes, fix the gels in 10%formalin on a shaker overnight. The next morning, wash the gels two times with PBS for ten minutes each on the shaker. After the second wash, incubate the gels in 70%ethanol for one hour on the shaker, followed by an overnight incubation in filtered carmine alum overnight.The next day, dehydrate the gels in progressive ethanol solutions while shaking for one hour each, followed by two one-hour shaking incubations in xylene. After the final xylene incubation, mount the gels with toluene-based mounting medium, and cover them with 1.5 millimeter thick cover slips. To process the gels for histological analysis, place the saved gel halves in individual 20 milliliters glass vials of 10%formalin for overnight fixation on the shaker.The next morning, wash the gels two times in PBS for ten minutes while shaking, as just demonstrated. Then, place the gels in processing cassettes for paraffin embedding. Next, dehydrate the gels in progressive ethanol incubations for one hour each as indicated, using fresh ethanol for each incubation.Then, incubate the gels in xylene for two one-hour incubations, and transfer the cassettes into paraffin for three one-hour incubations at 60 degrees Celsius in a vacuum incubator, using fresh paraffin each time. After the last vacuum incubation, remove the gel from the cassette and place in a plastic mold. Fill the mold with fresh paraffin, and cover the mold with the cassette top.After cooling, remove the plastic molds and use a microtome to obtain 5-micrometer thick sections of the gels. To extract the cells, carefully transfer whole gels from the 12-well plate into a Petri dish of PBS, and briefly rinse the gels. Then, place the gels in individual 15 milliliters tubes containing 2 milliliters of 0.125%collagenase, and pipette up and down four to five times to break the gels into small pieces.Incubate the gel fragments at 37 degrees Celsius for 25 to 30 minutes. When the gels have fully dissolved, add two milliliters of serum-supplemented culture medium to each cell suspension, and centrifuge the samples. Then, resuspend the pellets and count the number of viable cells.Epithelial structures are observed in whole mounts of gels cultured for two weeks in the presence of E2 alone, or in combination with other hormones. When no hormones are added, only single cells or groups of two to three cells are observed. Rat tail collagen type one is most frequently used for the gels, as seeding in bovine collagen type one may result in the formation of disorganized cell groups.E2 treatment results in thick, rounded, or elongated structures that exhibit more budding structures with the addition of prolactin. E2 and promegestone treatment, however, induces irregular structures, with cellular projections reminiscent of side branching. Here, the effect of an anti-estrogen on E2-dependent cell proliferation in the 3D cultures was quantified after collagenase cell extraction as just demonstrated.While attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to keep the neutralized collagen on ice, otherwise it will rapidly solidify at room temperature. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to prepare hormone-sensitive 3D cultures of the breast epithelium, and how to extract data on the action of hormones on epithelial morphogenesis and cell proliferation.

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Bioengineering

A Simple Hanging Drop Cell Culture Protocol for Generation of 3D Spheroids

Studies of cell-cell cohesion and cell-substratum adhesion have historically been performed on monolayer cultures adherent to rigid substrates. Cells within a tissue, however, are typically encased within a closely packed tissue mass in which cells establish intimate connections with many near-neighbors and with extracellular matrix components. Accordingly, the chemical milieu and physical forces experienced by cells within a 3D tissue are fundamentally different than those experienced by cells grown in monolayer culture. This has been shown to markedly impact cellular morphology and signaling. Several methods have been devised to generate 3D cell cultures including encapsulation of cells in collagen gels1or in biomaterial scaffolds2. Such methods, while useful, do not recapitulate the intimate direct cell-cell adhesion architecture found in normal tissues. Rather, they more closely approximate culture systems in which single cells are loosely dispersed within a 3D meshwork of ECM products. Here, we describe a simple method in which cells are placed in hanging drop culture and incubated under physiological conditions until they form true 3D spheroids in which cells are in direct contact with each other and with extracellular matrix components. The method requires no specialized equipment and can be adapted to include addition of any biological agent in very small quantities that may be of interest in elucidating effects on cell-cell or cell-ECM interaction. The method can also be used to co-culture two (or more) different cell populations so as to elucidate the role of cell-cell or cell-ECM interactions in specifying spatial relationships between cells. Cell-cell cohesion and cell-ECM adhesion are the cornerstones of studies of embryonic development, tumor-stromal cell interaction in malignant invasion, wound healing, and for applications to tissue engineering. This simple method will provide a means of generating tissue-like cellular aggregates for measurement of biomechanical properties or for molecular and biochemical analysis in a physiologically relevant model.

We describe a simple, rapid method of generating 3D tissue-like spheroids and their potential application to quantify differences in cell-cell interactions.

Studies of cell-cell cohesion and cell-substratum adhesion have historically been performed on monolayer cultures adherent to rigid substrates. Cells ...

Rotating Cell Culture Systems for Human Cell Culture: Human Trophoblast Cells as a Model

The field of human trophoblast research aids in understanding the complex environment established during placentation. Due to the nature of these studies, human in vivo experimentation is impossible. A combination of primary cultures, explant cultures and trophoblast cell lines1 support our understanding of invasion of the uterine wall2 and remodeling of uterine spiral arteries3,4 by extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs), which is required for successful establishment of pregnancy. Despite the wealth of knowledge gleaned from such models, it is accepted that in vitro cell culture models using EVT-like cell lines display altered cellular properties when compared to their in vivo counterparts5,6. Cells cultured in the rotating cell culture system (RCCS) display morphological, phenotypic, and functional properties of EVT-like cell lines that more closely mimic differentiating in utero EVTs, with increased expression of genes mediating invasion (e.g. matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)) and trophoblast differentiation7,8,9. The Saint Georges Hospital Placental cell Line-4 (SGHPL-4) (kindly donated by Dr. Guy Whitley and Dr. Judith Cartwright) is an EVT-like cell line that was used for testing in the RCCS.
The design of the RCCS culture vessel is based on the principle that organs and tissues function in a three-dimensional (3-D) environment. Due to the dynamic culture conditions in the vessel, including conditions of physiologically relevant shear, cells grown in three dimensions form aggregates based on natural cellular affinities and differentiate into organotypic tissue-like assemblies10,11,12 . The maintenance of a fluid orbit provides a low-shear, low-turbulence environment similar to conditions found in vivo. Sedimentation of the cultured cells is countered by adjusting the rotation speed of the RCCS to ensure a constant free-fall of cells. Gas exchange occurs through a permeable hydrophobic membrane located on the back of the bioreactor. Like their parental tissue in vivo, RCCS-grown cells are able to respond to chemical and molecular gradients in three dimensions (i.e. at their apical, basal, and lateral surfaces) because they are cultured on the surface of porous microcarrier beads. When grown as two-dimensional monolayers on impermeable surfaces like plastic, cells are deprived of this important communication at their basal surface. Consequently, the spatial constraints imposed by the environment profoundly affect how cells sense and decode signals from the surrounding microenvironment, thus implying an important role for the 3-D milieu13.
We have used the RCCS to engineer biologically meaningful 3-D models of various human epithelial tissues7,14,15,16. Indeed, many previous reports have demonstrated that cells cultured in the RCCS can assume physiologically relevant phenotypes that have not been possible with other models10,17-21. In summary, culture in the RCCS represents an easy, reproducible, high-throughput platform that provides large numbers of differentiated cells that are amenable to a variety of experimental manipulations. 
In the following protocol, using EVTs as an example, we clearly describe the steps required to three-dimensionally culture adherent cells in the RCCS.

Traditional, two dimensional cell culture techniques often result in altered characteristics with respect to differentiation markers, cytokines and growth factors. Three-dimensional cell culture in the rotating cell culture system (RCCS) reestablishes expression of many of these factors as shown here with an extravillous trophoblast cell line.

The field of human trophoblast research aids in  understanding the complex environment established during placentation. Due to the  nature of these ...

Production, Characterization and Potential Uses of a 3D Tissue-engineered Human Esophageal Mucosal Model

The incidence of both esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor, Barrett&#8217;s Metaplasia, are rising rapidly in the western world. Furthermore esophageal adenocarcinoma generally has a poor prognosis, with little improvement in survival rates in recent years. These are difficult conditions to study and there has been a lack of suitable experimental platforms to investigate disorders of the esophageal mucosa.
A model of the human esophageal mucosa has been developed in the MacNeil laboratory which, unlike conventional 2D cell culture systems, recapitulates the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions present in vivo and produces a mature, stratified epithelium similar to that of the normal human esophagus. Briefly, the model utilizes non-transformed normal primary human esophageal fibroblasts and epithelial cells grown within a porcine-derived acellular esophageal scaffold. Immunohistochemical characterization of this model by CK4, CK14, Ki67 and involucrin staining demonstrates appropriate recapitulation of the histology of the normal human esophageal mucosa.
This model provides a robust, biologically relevant experimental model of the human esophageal mucosa. It can easily be manipulated to investigate a number of research questions including the effectiveness of pharmacological agents and the impact of exposure to environmental factors such as alcohol, toxins, high temperature or gastro-esophageal refluxate components. The model also facilitates extended culture periods not achievable with conventional 2D cell culture, enabling, inter alia, the study of the impact of repeated exposure of a mature epithelium to the agent of interest for up to 20 days. Furthermore, a variety of cell lines, such as those derived from esophageal tumors or Barrett&#8217;s Metaplasia, can be incorporated into the model to investigate processes such as tumor invasion and drug responsiveness in a more biologically relevant environment.

This manuscript describes the production, characterization and potential uses of a tissue engineered 3D esophageal construct prepared from normal primary human esophageal fibroblast and squamous epithelial cells seeded within a de-cellularized porcine scaffold. The results demonstrate the formation of a mature stratified epithelium similar to the normal human esophagus.

The incidence of both esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor, Barrett&#8217;s Metaplasia, are rising rapidly in the western world. Furthermore ...

Tunable Hydrogels from Pulmonary Extracellular Matrix for 3D Cell Culture

Here we present a method for establishing multiple component cell culture hydrogels for in vitro lung cell culture. Beginning with healthy en bloc lung tissue from porcine, rat, or mouse, the tissue is perfused and submerged in subsequent chemical detergents to remove the cellular debris. Histological comparison of the tissue before and after processing confirms removal of over 95% of double stranded DNA and alpha galactosidase staining suggests the majority of cellular debris is removed. After decellularization, the tissue is lyophilized and then cryomilled into a powder. The matrix powder is digested for 48 hr in an acidic pepsin digestion solution and then neutralized to form the pregel solution. Gelation of the pregel solution can be induced by incubation at 37 &#176;C and can be used immediately following neutralization or stored at 4 &#176;C for up to two weeks. Coatings can be formed using the pregel solution on a non-treated plate for cell attachment. Cells can be suspended in the pregel prior to self-assembly to achieve a 3D culture, plated on the surface of a formed gel from which the cells can migrate through the scaffold, or plated on the coatings. Alterations to the strategy presented can impact gelation temperature, strength, or protein fragment sizes. Beyond hydrogel formation, the hydrogel stiffness may be increased using genipin.

This is a method to create a 3-dimensional cell culture scaffold from pulmonary extracellular matrix. Intact lung is processed into hydrogels that can support the growth of cells in three-dimensions.

Here we present a method for establishing multiple component cell culture hydrogels for in vitro lung cell culture. Beginning with healthy en bloc lung ...

Intraductal Delivery to the Rabbit Mammary Gland

Localized intraductal treatments for breast cancer offer potential advantages, including efficient delivery to the tumor and reduced systemic toxicity and adverse effects1,2,3,4,5,6,7. However, several challenges remain before these treatments can be applied more widely. The development and validation of intraductal therapeutics in an appropriate animal model facilitate the development of intraductal therapeutic strategies for patients. While the mouse mammary gland has been widely used as a model system of mammary development and tumorigenesis, the anatomy is distinct from the human gland. A larger animal model, such as the rabbit, may serve as a better model for mammary gland structure and intraductal therapeutic development. In contrast to mice, in which ten ductal trees are spatially distributed along the body axis, each terminating in a separate teat, the rabbit mammary gland more closely resembles the human gland, with multiple overlapping ductal systems that exit through separate openings in one teat. Here, we present minimally invasive methods for the delivery of reagents directly into the rabbit mammary duct and for visualization of the delivery itself with high-resolution ultrasound imaging.

Here, we describe a technique for the localized delivery of reagents to the rabbit mammary gland via an intraductal injection. In addition, we describe a protocol for visualization and the confirmation of delivery by high-resolution ultrasound imaging of contrast agents.

Localized intraductal treatments for breast cancer offer potential advantages, including efficient delivery to the tumor and reduced systemic toxicity and ...

Growth and Characterization of Irradiated Organoids from Mammary Glands

Organoids derived from the digested tissue are multicellular three-dimensional (3D) constructs that better recapitulate in vivo conditions than cell monolayers. Although they cannot completely model in vivo complexity, they retain some functionality of the original organ. In cancer models, organoids are commonly used to study tumor cell invasion. This protocol aims to develop and characterize organoids from the normal and irradiated mouse mammary gland tissue to evaluate the radiation response in normal tissues. These organoids can be applied to future in vitro cancer studies to evaluate tumor cell interactions with irradiated organoids. Mammary glands were resected, irradiated to 20 Gy and digested in a collagenase VIII solution. Epithelial organoids were separated via centrifugal differentiation, and 3D organoids were developed in 96-well low-adhesion microplates. Organoids expressed the characteristic epithelial marker cytokeratin 14. Macrophage interaction with the organoids was observed in co-culture experiments. This model may be useful for studying tumor-stromal interactions, infiltration of immune cells, and macrophage polarization within an irradiated microenvironment.

Organoids developed from mouse mammary glands were irradiated and characterized to assess epithelial traits and interactions with immune cells. Irradiated organoids can be used to better evaluate cell-cell interactions that may lead to tumor cell recruitment in irradiated normal tissue.

Organoids derived from the digested tissue are multicellular three-dimensional (3D) constructs that better recapitulate in vivo conditions than cell ...

A Human 3D Extracellular Matrix-Adipocyte Culture Model for Studying Matrix-Cell Metabolic Crosstalk

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a central role in regulating tissue homeostasis, engaging in crosstalk with cells and regulating multiple aspects of cellular function. The ECM plays a particularly important role in adipose tissue function in obesity, and alterations in adipose tissue ECM deposition and composition are associated with metabolic disease in mice and humans. Tractable in vitro models that permit dissection of the roles of the ECM and cells in contributing to global tissue phenotype are sparse. We describe a novel 3D in vitro model of human ECM-adipocyte culture that permits study of the specific roles of the ECM and adipocytes in regulating adipose tissue metabolic phenotype. Human adipose tissue is decellularized to isolate ECM, which is subsequently repopulated with preadipocytes that are then differentiated within the ECM into mature adipocytes. This method creates ECM-adipocyte constructs that are metabolically active and retain characteristics of the tissues and patients from which they are derived. We have used this system to demonstrate disease-specific ECM-adipocyte crosstalk in human adipose tissue. This culture model provides a tool for dissecting the roles of the ECM and adipocytes in contributing to global adipose tissue metabolic phenotype and permits study of the role of the ECM in regulating adipose tissue homeostasis.

We describe a 3D human extracellular matrix-adipocyte in vitro culture system that permits dissection of the roles of the matrix and adipocytes in contributing to adipose tissue metabolic phenotype.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a central role in regulating tissue homeostasis, engaging in crosstalk with cells and regulating multiple aspects of ...

Transplantation of a 3D Bioprinted Patch in a Murine Model of Myocardial Infarction

Testing regenerative properties of 3D bioprinted cardiac patches in vivo using murine models of heart failure via permanent left anterior descending (LAD) ligation is a challenging procedure and has a high mortality rate due to its nature. We developed a method to consistently transplant bioprinted patches of cells and hydrogels onto the epicardium of an infarcted mouse heart to test their regenerative properties in a robust and feasible way. First, a deeply anesthetized mouse is carefully intubated and ventilated. Following left lateral thoracotomy (surgical opening of the chest), the exposed LAD is permanently ligated and the bioprinted patch transplanted onto the epicardium. The mouse quickly recovers from the procedure after chest closure. The advantages of this robust and quick approach include a predicted 28-day mortality rate of up to 30% (lower than the 44% reported by other studies using a similar model of permanent LAD ligation in mice). Moreover, the approach described in this protocol is versatile and could be adapted to test bioprinted patches using different cell types or hydrogels where high numbers of animals are needed to optimally power studies. Overall, we present this as an advantageous approach which may change preclinical testing in future studies for the field of cardiac regeneration and tissue engineering.

This protocol aims to transplant a 3D bioprinted patch onto the epicardium of infarcted mice modeling heart failure. It includes details regarding anesthesia, the surgical chest opening, permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and application of a bioprinted patch onto the infarcted area of the heart.

Testing regenerative properties of 3D bioprinted cardiac patches in vivo using murine models of heart failure via permanent left anterior descending (LAD) ...

3D Co-Culture Assay: Vascularized Osteogenic Niches for Cancer Drug Screening

Simple Establishment of a Vascularized Osteogenic Bone Marrow Niche Using Pre-Cast Poly(ethylene Glycol) (PEG) Hydrogels in an Imaging Microplate

The bone and bone marrow are highly vascularized and structurally complex organs, and are sites for cancer and metastasis formation. In vitro models recapitulating bone- and bone marrow-specific functions, including vascularization, that are compatible with drug screening are highly desirable. Such models can bridge the gap between simplistic, structurally irrelevant two-dimensional (2D) in vitro models and the more expensive, ethically challenging in vivo models. This article describes a controllable three-dimensional (3D) co-culture assay based on engineered poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) matrices for the generation of vascularized, osteogenic bone-marrow niches. The PEG matrix design allows the development of 3D cell cultures through a simple cell seeding step requiring no encapsulation, thus enabling the development of complex co-culture systems. Furthermore, the matrices are transparent and pre-cast onto glass-bottom 96-well imaging plates, rendering the system suitable for microscopy. For the assay described here, human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBM-MSCs) are cultured first until a sufficiently developed 3D cell network is formed. Subsequently, GFP-expressing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are added. The culture development is followed by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy. The presence of the hBM-MSC network supports the formation of vascular-like structures that otherwise&#160;would not form and that remain stable for at least 7 days. The extent of vascular-like network formation can easily be quantified. This model can be tuned toward an osteogenic bone-marrow niche by supplementing the culture medium with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), which promotes the osteogenic differentiation of the hBM-MSCs, as assessed by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity at day 4 and day 7 of co-culture. This cellular model can be used as a platform for culturing various cancer cells and studying how they interact with bone- and bone marrow-specific vascular niches. Moreover, it is suitable for automation and high-content analyses, meaning it would enable cancer drug screening under highly reproducible culture conditions.

Author Spotlight: Simple Establishment of a Vascularized Osteogenic Bone Marrow Niche Using Pre-Cast Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG) Hydrogels in an Imaging Microplate  

An in vitro model of the bone marrow vascular niche is established by seeding mesenchymal and endothelial cells onto pre-cast 3D PEG hydrogels. The endothelial networks, ECM components, and ALP activity of the niches vary depending on the growth factor used. The platform can be used for advanced cancer models.

The bone and bone marrow are highly vascularized and structurally complex organs, and are sites for cancer and metastasis formation. In vitro models ...

Establishing the 3D Stromal-Endothelial Cell Co-Culture

To begin, take the pellet of the GFP-HUVECs grown to a confluence level of 80 to 100%and resuspend the cells in an appropriate volume of basal medium to achieve a concentration of one times 10 to the seventh cells per milliliter of stock solution. Prepare 50-milliliter conical centrifuge tubes containing the required volume of basal medium supplemented with the respective growth factors. Add the GFP-HUVECs from the stock solution at a dilution of one to 66.67 to achieve a concentration of 1.5 times 10 to the fifth cells per microliter.Then aspirate the medium from the plate containing the stromal monoculture and add 200 microliters per well of the prepared GFP-HUVECs suspension. Incubate at 37 degrees Celsius in 5%carbon dioxide in a humidified atmosphere, changing the medium every three to four days. Monitor the development of the culture by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy using a five times objective.Differences between the cultures could be observed from the bright-field and fluorescence images showing only the GFP-HUVECs. The cultures appeared less developed without any growth factor, However, faster development was observed in the presence of FGF-2. In contrast, the bright-field images showed the densest cultures in the presence of BMP-2.However, vascular like networks formed in both growth factor-containing conditions and the most extensive and interconnected networks were formed with FGF-2.