Name: differentiation of mouse breast epithelial hc11 and eph4 cells
Uploaded: 2020-02-27T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Differentiation of Mouse Breast Epithelial HC11 and EpH4 Cells at JoVE.com

The HC11 cell line was kindly provided by Dr. D. Medina (Houston, TX). The authors are grateful to Dr. Andrew Craig of Queen&#39;s University for many reagents and valuable suggestions. EpH4 cells were a gift from Dr. C. Roskelley (UBC, Vancouver). Colleen Schick provided excellent technical assistance for 3D culture studies.
The financial assistance of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF, Ontario Chapter), the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance, the Ontario Centres of Excellence, the Breast Cancer Action Kingston (BCAK) and the Clare Nelson bequest fund through grants to LR is gratefully acknowledged. BE received grant support from CIHR, CBCF, BCAK and Cancer Research Society Inc. PTG is supported by a Canada Research Chair, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, CIHR, NSERC and Canadian Cancer Society. MN was supported by a studentship from the Terry Fox Training Program in Transdisciplinary Cancer Research from NCIC, a Graduate award (QGA), and a Dean&#39;s Award from Queen&#39;s University. MG was supported by postdoctoral fellowships from the US Army Breast Cancer Program, the Ministry of Research and Innovation of the Province of Ontario and the Advisory Research Committee of Queen&#39;s University. VH was supported by a CBCF doctoral fellowship and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Terry Fox Foundation Training Program in Transdisciplinary Cancer Research in partnership with CIHR. Hanad Adan was the recipient of an NSERC summer studentship. BS was supported by a Queen&#39;s University graduate award.

1. Plating HC11 Cells
<ol>
	<li>In a laminar flow hood using sterile techniques prepare a bottle with 50 mL of HC11 cell medium: RPMI-1640 with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 5 &#956;g/mL insulin, and 10 ng/mL EGF (see Table of Materials).</li>
	<li>Plate approximately 400,000 cells per 3 cm Petri dish: Pass two 10 cm, 50% confluent Petri dishes into twenty 3 cm dishes in HC11 medium. The cells must be well spread out but drying must be avoided.
	<ol>
		<li>Aspirate the medium into a flask using a vacuu...

<ol>
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A., Doppler, W., Groner, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prolactin+regulation+of+beta-casein+gene+expression+and+of+a+cytosolic+120-kd+protein+in+a+cloned+mouse+mammary+epithelial+cell+line.">Prolactin regulation of beta-casein gene expression and of a cytosolic 120-kd protein in a cloned mouse mammary epithelial cell line.</a> The EMBO Journal. 7 (7), 2089-2095 (1988).</li><li>Humphreys, R. C., Rosen, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stably+transfected+HC11+cells+provide+an+in+vitro+and+in+vivo+model+system+for+studying+Wnt+gene+function.">Stably transfected HC11 cells provide an in vitro and in vivo model system for studying Wnt gene function.</a> Cell growth &amp; differentiation. 8 (8), 839-849 (1997).</li><li>Merlo, G. R., 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=differentiation+and+survival+of+HC11+mammary+epithelial+cells:+diverse+effects+of+receptor+tyrosine+kinase-activating+peptide+growth+factors.">differentiation and survival of HC11 mammary epithelial cells: diverse effects of receptor tyrosine kinase-activating peptide growth factors.</a> European Journal of Cell Biology. 70 (2), 97-105 (1996).</li><li>Wirl, G., Hermann, M., Ekblom, P., Fassler, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mammary+epithelial+cell+differentiation+in+vitro+is+regulated+by+an+interplay+of+EGF+action+and+tenascin-C+downregulation.">Mammary epithelial cell differentiation in vitro is regulated by an interplay of EGF action and tenascin-C downregulation.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 108, 2445-2456 (1995).</li><li>Arbeithuber, B., 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=Aquaporin+5+expression+in+mouse+mammary+gland+cells+is+not+driven+by+promoter+methylation.">Aquaporin 5 expression in mouse mammary gland cells is not driven by promoter methylation.</a> BioMed Research International. 2015, 460598 (2015).</li><li>Morrison, B., Cutler, M. 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V., Fialka, I., Orci, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+EpH4+mammary+epithelial+cell+subpopulations+which+differ+in+their+morphogenetic+properties.">Isolation of EpH4 mammary epithelial cell subpopulations which differ in their morphogenetic properties.</a> In Vitro Cellular &amp; Developmental Biology - Animal. 34 (6), 468-477 (1998).</li><li>Nagaoka, K., Zhang, H., Watanabe, G., Taya, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epithelial+cell+differentiation+regulated+by+MicroRNA-200a+in+mammary+glands.">Epithelial cell differentiation regulated by MicroRNA-200a in mammary glands.</a> PLoS One. 8 (6), 65127 (2013).</li><li>Arulanandam, R., 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=Cadherin-cadherin+engagement+promotes+survival+via+Rac/Cdc42+and+Stat3.">Cadherin-cadherin engagement promotes survival via Rac/Cdc42 and Stat3.</a> Molecular Cancer Research. 17, 1310-1327 (2009).</li><li>Geletu, M., 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=Classical+cadherins+control+survival+through+the+gp130/Stat3+axis.">Classical cadherins control survival through the gp130/Stat3 axis.</a> BBA-Molecular Cell Research. 1833, 1947-1959 (2013).</li><li>Raptis, L., Arulanandam, R., Geletu, M., Turkson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+R(h)oads+to+Stat3:+Stat3+activation+by+the+Rho+GTPases.">The R(h)oads to Stat3: Stat3 activation by the Rho GTPases.</a> Experimental Cell Research. 317 (13), 1787-1795 (2011).</li><li>Raptis, 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=Beyond+structure,+to+survival:+Stat3+activation+by+cadherin+engagement.">Beyond structure, to survival: Stat3 activation by cadherin engagement.</a> Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 87, 835-843 (2009).</li><li>Niit, M., 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=Regulation+of+Differentiation+of+HC11+Mouse+Breast+Epithelial+Cells+by+the+Signal+Transducer+and+Activator+of+Transcription-3.">Regulation of Differentiation of HC11 Mouse Breast Epithelial Cells by the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3.</a> Anticancer Research. 39 (6), 2749-2756 (2019).</li><li>Brinkmann, V., Foroutan, H., Sachs, M., Weidner, K. M., Birchmeier, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatocyte+growth+factor/scatter+factor+induces+a+variety+of+tissue-specific+morphogenic+programs+in+epithelial+cells.">Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor induces a variety of tissue-specific morphogenic programs in epithelial cells.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 131, 1573-1586 (1995).</li><li>Starova, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Role of cell adhesion microevironment and the Src/Stat3 axis in autocrine HGF signaling during breast tumourigenesis. , (2008).</li><li>Raptis, 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=Rasleu61+blocks+differentiation+of+transformable+3T3+L1+and+C3HT1/2-derived+preadipocytes+in+a+dose-+and+time-dependent+manner.">Rasleu61 blocks differentiation of transformable 3T3 L1 and C3HT1/2-derived preadipocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner.</a> Cell Growth &amp; Differentiation. 8, 11-21 (1997).</li><li>Greer, S., Honeywell, R., Geletu, M., Arulanandam, R., Raptis, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Housekeeping+gene+products;+levels+may+change+with+confluence+of+cultured+cells.">Housekeeping gene products; levels may change with confluence of cultured cells.</a> Journal of Immunological Methods. 355, 76-79 (2010).</li><li>Vultur, A., 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=Cell+to+cell+adhesion+modulates+Stat3+activity+in+normal+and+breast+carcinoma+cells.">Cell to cell adhesion modulates Stat3 activity in normal and breast carcinoma cells.</a> Oncogene. 23, 2600-2616 (2004).</li><li>Debnath, J., Muthuswamy, S. K., Brugge, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphogenesis+and+oncogenesis+of+MCF-10A+mammary+epithelial+acini+grown+in+three-dimensional+basement+membrane+cultures.">Morphogenesis and oncogenesis of MCF-10A mammary epithelial acini grown in three-dimensional basement membrane cultures.</a> Methods. 30 (3), 256-268 (2003).</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> Nature Methods. 4 (4), 359-365 (2007).</li><li>Hoskin, V. 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HC11 cells are ideally suited for the study of differentiation in conjunction with neoplastic transformation. An added advantage is that HC11 cells are easily infectable with Mo-MLV-based retroviral vectors to express a variety of genes. In our hands, EpH4 cells were more difficult to infect with the same retroviral vectors than HC112.
Cell-to-cell contact and growth arrest are key prerequisites for HC11 cell differentiation. Thus, to achieve uniform differentiation acr...

In normal tissues or tumors, cells have extensive opportunities for adhesion to their neighbors in a three-dimensional organization, and this is mimicked in culture by high density cell growth. Cell-to-cell adhesion is mediated mainly through cadherin receptors, which define cell and tissue architecture. Interestingly, it was recently demonstrated that cadherins also play a powerful role in signal transduction, especially in survival signaling1. Paradoxically, some of these cell-to-cell adhesion signals emanating from cadherins were recently found to be shared by both differentiation and neoplasia2. Here, we describe methods of induction and assessment of differentiation in two representative types of mouse breast epithelial cell lines, HC11 and EpH4.
The HC11 mouse breast epithelial cell line can provide a useful model for the study of epithelial cell differentiation. HC11 cells are a COMMA-1D-derived cell line, originating from the mammary gland of a mid-pregnant Balb/c mouse3. In contrast to other COMMA-1D derivative clones, the HC11 clone has no requirement for exogenously added extracellular matrix or cocultivation with other cell types for the in vitro induction of the endogenous &#946;-casein gene by lactogenic hormones3. This cell line has been used extensively in differentiation studies because it has retained important characteristics of the normal mammary epithelium: HC11 cells can partially reconstitute the ductal epithelium in a cleared mammary fat pad4. Moreover, they can differentiate in a two-dimensional (2D) culture when grown to confluence attached to a plastic Petri dish surface in the presence of a steroid such as Hydrocortisone or Dexamethasone, in addition to Insulin and Prolactin (HIP medium) lacking epidermal growth factor (EGF), an inhibitor of differentiation5,6,7. Under these conditions, HC11 cells produce milk proteins such as &#946;-casein and WAP, which are detectable by Western blotting within 4 days following induction. At the same time, a portion of HC11 cells forms rudimentary mammary gland-like structures termed &#34;domes&#34; in a stochastic manner. Domes are visible 4&#8211;5 days following induction and gradually increase in size up to day 10, concomitant with an increase in &#946;-casein production8. Interestingly, HC11 cells possess mutant p539, and therefore represent a preneoplastic state. For this reason, the HC11 model is ideally suited to study signaling networks of differentiation in conjunction with neoplasia in the same cell system.
EpH4 cells, a derivative of IM-2 cells, are a nontumorigenic cell line originally derived from spontaneously immortalized mouse mammary gland epithelial cells isolated from a mid-pregnant Balb/c mouse10. EpH4 cells form continuous epithelial monolayers in 2D culture, but do not differentiate into glandular-like structures10,11. However, following 3D growth in a material consisting of a mixture of extracellular matrix proteins produced by EHS mouse sarcoma cells12 (EHS matrix, matrix, or Matrigel, see Table of Materials), in addition to stimulation with HIP, EpH4 cells can recapitulate the initial stages of mammary gland differentiation. Under these conditions, EpH4 cells form spheroids (also called mammospheres) that exhibit apical-basal polarity and a hollow lumen, and are capable of producing the milk proteins &#946;-casein and WAP, similar to lactating mammary epithelial cells. Contrary to HC11 cells, which are undifferentiated, and some express mesenchymal markers13, EpH4 cells exhibit a purely luminal morphology14. EpH4 cells have also been reported to produce milk proteins in 2D culture through stimulation with dexamethasone, insulin, and prolactin15. However, this approach precludes the study of regulatory effects that mimic the mammary gland microenvironment in 3D culture.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>30% Acrylamide/0.8% Bis Solution</td>
			<td>Bio Rad</td>
			<td>1610154</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Cyclin D1 antibody</td>
			<td>rabbit, Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-717</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-p120 antibody</td>
			<td>mouse, Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-373751</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-&#946; actin antibody</td>
			<td>mouse, Cell Signalling technology</td>
			<td>3700</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-&#946; casein antibody</td>
			<td>goat, Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td>sc-17971</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aprotinin</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>APR600</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bicinchoninic Acid Solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B9643-1L-KC</td>
			<td>Protein Determination</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>ALB007.500</td>
			<td>Protein Determination</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clarity Western ECL Substrate</td>
			<td>Bio Rad</td>
			<td>170-5061</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Copper(II) sulphate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C2284-25ML</td>
			<td>Protein Determination</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific</td>
			<td>D1306</td>
			<td>Staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digitonin</td>
			<td>Calbiochem, Cedarlane Laboratories Ltd</td>
			<td>14952-500</td>
			<td>Staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>EDT001.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epidermal Growth Factor</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E9644</td>
			<td>Medium for HC11 Cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal calf serum</td>
			<td>PAA</td>
			<td>A15-751</td>
			<td>Cell Culture Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat- Anti Rabbit-HRP</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>SC-2004</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hepatocyte Growth Factor recombinant</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>PHG0321</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hepes</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>7365-45-9</td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horse Anti-Mouse HRP</td>
			<td>Cell Signalling Technology</td>
			<td>7076</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrocortisone</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H0888</td>
			<td>HIP Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>insulin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>I6634</td>
			<td>HIP Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminar-flow hood</td>
			<td>BioGard Hood</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leupeptin</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>LEU001.10</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matrix (Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm matrix, Matrigel)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>CACB 354230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse Anti-Goat HRP</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-8360</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mowiol 4-88 Reagent</td>
			<td>Calbiochem, Cedarlane Laboratories Ltd</td>
			<td>475904-100GM</td>
			<td>Staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multi-photon confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Leica TCS SP2</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na3VO4</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>SOV850</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na4P207</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>125F-0262</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>SOD001.1</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaF</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>7681-49-4</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon digital Camera</td>
			<td>Coolpix 995</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nitrocellulose</td>
			<td>Bio Rad</td>
			<td>1620112</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NP-40</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>9016-45-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>30525-89-4</td>
			<td>Staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phase Contrast Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus IX70</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenylmethylsuphonyl fluoride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>329-98-6</td>
			<td>Lysis Buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMX GFP Rac G12V</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>14567</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Prolactin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>L6520</td>
			<td>HIP Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI-1640</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>R8758</td>
			<td>Cell Culture Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue Culture Dish 35</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>83.3900.</td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue Culture Plate-24 well</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>83.1836.300</td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transfer Apparatus</td>
			<td>CBS Scientific Co</td>
			<td>EBU-302</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris Acetate</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>TRA222.500</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>9002-07-7.</td>
			<td>Cell Culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20</td>
			<td>Bio Shop</td>
			<td>TWN510.500</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Veritical Gel Electrophoresis System</td>
			<td>CBS Scientific Co</td>
			<td>MGV-202-33</td>
			<td>Western Blotting</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

differentiation of mouse breast epithelial hc11 and eph4 cells

Cadherins play an important role in the regulation of cell differentiation as well as neoplasia. Here we describe the origins and methods of the induction of differentiation of two mouse breast epithelial cell lines, HC11 and EpH4, and their use to study complementary stages of mammary gland development and neoplastic transformation.
The HC11 mouse breast epithelial cell line originated from the mammary gland of a pregnant Balb/c mouse. It differentiates when grown to confluence attached to a plastic Petri dish surface in medium containing fetal calf serum and Hydrocortisone, Insulin and Prolactin (HIP medium). Under these conditions, HC11 cells produce the milk proteins &#946;-casein and whey acidic protein (WAP), similar to lactating mammary epithelial cells, and form rudimentary mammary gland-like structures termed &#34;domes&#34;.
The EpH4 cell line was derived from spontaneously immortalized mouse mammary gland epithelial cells isolated from a pregnant Balb/c mouse. Unlike HC11, EpH4 cells can fully differentiate into spheroids (also called mammospheres) when cultured under three-dimensional (3D) growth conditions in HIP medium. Cells are trypsinized, suspended in a 20% matrix consisting of a mixture of extracellular matrix proteins produced by Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse sarcoma cells, plated on top of a layer of concentrated matrix coating a plastic Petri dish or multiwell plate, and covered with a layer of 10% matrix-containing HIP medium. Under these conditions, EpH4 cells form hollow spheroids that exhibit apical-basal polarity, a hollow lumen, and produce &#946;-casein and WAP.
Using these techniques, our results demonstrated that the intensity of the cadherin/Rac signal is critical for the differentiation of HC11 cells. While Rac1 is necessary for differentiation and low levels of activated RacV12 increase differentiation, high RacV12 levels block differentiation while inducing neoplasia. In contrast, EpH4 cells represent an earlier stage in mammary epithelial differentiation, which is inhibited by even low levels of RacV12.

It has long been known that the differentiation of epithelial cells and adipocytes requires confluence and engagement of cadherins2. We and others demonstrated that cell-to-cell adhesion and engagement of E- or N-cadherin and cadherin-11, as occurs with the confluence of cultured cells, triggers a dramatic increase in the activity of the small GTPases Rac and cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42), and this process leads to activation of interleukin&#8211;6 (IL6) family cytokines and Stat3 (sign...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Differentiation of Mouse Breast Epithelial HC11 and EpH4 Cells at JoVE.com

Differentiation of Mouse Breast Epithelial HC11 and EpH4 Cells

We describe techniques for differentiation induction of two breast epithelial lines, HC11 and EpH4. While both require fetal calf serum, insulin, and prolactin to produce milk proteins, EpH4 cells can fully differentiate into mammospheres in three-dimensional culture. These complementary models are useful for signal transduction studies of differentiation and neoplasia.

Cadherins play an important role in the regulation of cell differentiation as well as neoplasia. Here we describe the origins and methods of the induction ...

The HC11 and EpH4 cells are mouse breast epithelial cell lines which can differentiate in culture. At the same time, these cells can be transformed by a number of oncogenes. These cells are ideal for the study of the interrelationship between differentiation and the neoplastic transformation.These techniques can be used in signal transduction studies to discover targets for cancer therapy. For example, the small GTPase Rac and other molecules may trigger transformation of breast epithelial cells when expressed to high levels, but surprisingly at low levels, they may induce differentiation. Other signal transducers may behave in a similar manner.The principles may apply to other types of differentiation as well where cell confluence plays an important role, for example differentiation of adipocytes or myotubes. Someone performing this technique for the first time should keep in mind that plating of the HC11 cells is important. This is because cell-to-cell contact is important for differentiation.Another point to watch out is that proper extraction of EpH4 cells from the matrix is critical for protein quantitation because any residues will affect protein determination. Visual demonstration of this method is useful because some details of the protocol are difficult to describe on paper. Start by preparing a bottle of 50 milliliters of HC11 cell medium according to manuscript directions.To plate the cells, aspirate the medium from five six centimeter 50%confluent Petri dishes and wash the cells with approximately 1.8 milliliters of trypsin using a sterile nine inch cotton plugged Pasteur pipette. Then add 200 microliters of trypsin per plate and swirl the plate to dislodge the attached cells. Observe the cells under phase contrast microscopy with a 4X objective to make sure they have started to dislodge.Then aspirate approximately 1.5 milliliters of HC11 medium with a sterile nine inch Pasteur pipette and squirt it vertically against the cells while rotating the dish making sure to avoid splashing. Transfer all the cells to the bottle with HC11 medium and swirl to disperse evenly in the bottle. Then aliquot the cell suspension into 20 three centimeter Petri dishes by pipetting two milliliters of cells per dish.Rock the Petri dishes to spread the cells and incubate them at 37 degrees Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide overnight. On the next day when the cells are 90 to 100%confluent, aspirate the medium and replace it with medium with FBS but without EGF. After growing the cells in medium without EGF for 24 hours, add the differentiation medium to 10 dishes and grow the cells for up to 10 days keeping the other 10 dishes as controls.Change the medium every two to three days with both HIP treated and control cells. To monitor the differentiation, observe the cells with phase contrast microscopy. Use fluorescence microscopy if the cells are expressing green fluorescent protein.Additionally, quantify the degree of differentiation by extracting proteins from the HIP treated and control cells once per day and performing Western Blot analysis. Gather and place the EpH4 growth medium, the EHS matrix, and two conical 50 milliliter tubes on ice. Prechill the tissue culture plates with pipette tips at minus 20 degrees Celsius and prepare EpH4 growth medium supplemented with 10 or 20%matrix in two 50 milliliter conical tubes and keep them on ice until ready to use.After retrieving the prechilled tissue culture plates at minus 20 degrees Celsius, coat 10 wells of the 24-well plate with 150 microliters of undiluted matrix by spreading the matrix with a pipette. Avoid creating bubbles when spreading the matrix. Then gently tap the sides of the plate and incubate the plate at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour to allow the matrix to solidify.Meanwhile, prepare for the differentiation by trypsinizing the EpH4 cells well as previously described and ensuring single cell suspensions after resuspension of trypsinized cells. Next, count the cells in suspension with a hemocytometer. Transfer five times 10 to the four cells per well to a 1.5 milliliter sterile conical centrifuge tube and spin them at 250 times g for five minutes.Carefully aspirate the supernatant medium and place the tube on ice. Use a one milliliter pipette tip to resuspend the cells in 350 microliters of EpH4 growth medium supplemented with 20%matrix while keeping the tubes on ice making sure to avoid bubbles. Once the bottom layer has solidified, add the 350 microliters of cell suspension to each coated well and place it in a carbon dioxide incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour to allow the 20%matrix layer to solidify.Observe the cells with phase contrast microscopy to make sure single cells are visible. Then add 200 microliters of EpH4 medium with 10%matrix on top and incubate the plate at 37 degrees Celsius. Begin differentiation induction one day after plating the cells in the matrix.Carefully remove 150 microliters of top 10%matrix medium and add 200 microliters of EpH4 medium containing HIP and 10%matrix and for controls add a 10%matrix medium without HIP. Replace the medium every two days for up to 10 days monitoring mammosphere formation with phase contrast microscopy. To quantify the differentiation, carefully pipette off the 10%matrix HIP medium from the wells and rinse the 20%matrix layer with 350 microliters of ice cold PBS.Then add 70 to 100 microliters of ice cold PBS with one millimolar EDTA directly into the wells and gently detach the bottom layer of 100%matrix with a pipette tip. Shake the plate gently at four degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the spheroid suspension to a conical tube and rinse the wells with 500 microliters of PBS EDTA to recover any remaining spheroids.Rock the tube on ice for an additional 30 minutes making sure that the matrix fully dissolves. If visible matrix clumps are seen, add more PBS EDTA or shake longer. Centrifuge the solution at 350 times g to pellet the spheroids.Then aspirate the supernatant, lyse the spheroids, and probe the cells for beta-casein, cyclin D1, and p120RasGAP by Western blotting. There is a striking dependence of differentiation upon the strength of the Rac signal in HC11 cells. While endogenous CRAC1 is required for differentiation and low levels of mutationally activated RacV12 cause an increase in differentiation capacity, high RacV12 levels trigger a block of differentiation and induce neoplasia.When the differentiation properties of EpH4 cells were explored in a 3D matrix culture, it was found that beta-casein production peaked at eight to 10 days and cyclin D1 expression was maximal at four to six days after HIP stimulation. To determine the positioning of individual cells, they were stained with DAPI and imaged with confocal microscopy. Inner cell death and formation of hollow lumens was observed in the mammospheres while addition of HGF resulted in the formation of tubular structures.Someone performing this technique for the first time should keep in mind that the plating of the HC11 cells is important. Also proper extraction of the EpH4 cells from the matrix is critical for protein quantitation because any residues will affect protein determination. This technique can be used to investigate other signal transducers that may behave in a similar manner.If there are driver mutations in a cancer, then their complete inhibition will not be necessary since low levels remaining would actually induce differentiation.

differentiation-of-mouse-breast-epithelial-hc11-and-eph4-cells

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NF&#954;B Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Inflammation is a cancer hallmark that underlies cancer incidence and promotion, and eventually progression to metastasis. Therefore, adding an anti-inflammatory drug to standard cancer regiments may improve patient outcome. One such drug, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), has been explored for cancer chemoprevention and anti-tumor activity. Besides inhibiting the cyclooxygenase 2-prostaglandin axis, ASA&#39;s anti-cancer activities have also been attributed to nuclear factor &#312;B (NF&#312;B) inhibition. Because prolonged ASA use may cause gastrointestinal toxicity, a prodrug strategy has been implemented successfully. In this prodrug design the carboxylic acid of ASA is masked and additional pharmacophores are incorporated.
This protocol describes how we synthesized an aspirin-fumarate prodrug, GTCpFE, and characterized its inhibition of the NF&#312;B pathway in breast cancer cells and attenuation of the cancer stem-like properties, an important NF&#312;B-dependent phenotype. GTCpFE effectively inhibits the NF&#312;B pathway in breast cancer cell lines whereas ASA lacks any inhibitory activity, indicating that adding fumarate to ASA structure significantly contributes to its activity. In addition, GTCpFE shows significant anti-cancer stem cell activity by blocking mammosphere formation and attenuating the cancer stem cell associated CD44+CD24- immunophenotype. These results establish a viable strategy to develop improved anti-inflammatory drugs for chemoprevention and cancer therapy.

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NF&amp;#954;B Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

This procedure will demonstrate how we synthesized and characterized the anti-NF&#954;B and anti-cancer stem cell activity of an aspirin-fumarate prodrug.

Inflammation is a cancer hallmark that underlies cancer incidence and promotion, and eventually progression to metastasis. Therefore, adding an ...

Invasive Behavior of Human Breast Cancer Cells in Embryonic Zebrafish

In many cases, cancer patients do not die of a primary tumor, but rather because of metastasis. Although numerous rodent models are available for studying cancer metastasis in vivo, other efficient, reliable, low-cost models are needed to quickly access the potential effects of (epi)genetic changes or pharmacological compounds. As such, we illustrate and explain the feasibility of xenograft models using human breast cancer cells injected into zebrafish embryos to support this goal. Under the microscope, fluorescent proteins or chemically labeled human breast cancer cells are transplanted into transgenic zebrafish embryos, Tg (fli:EGFP), at the perivitelline space or duct of Cuvier (Doc) 48 h after fertilization. Shortly afterwards, the temporal-spatial process of cancer cell invasion, dissemination, and metastasis in the living fish body is visualized under a fluorescent microscope. The models using different injection sites, i.e., perivitelline space or Doc are complementary to one another, reflecting the early stage (intravasation step) and late stage (extravasation step) of the multistep metastatic cascade of events. Moreover, peritumoral and intratumoral angiogenesis can be observed with the injection into the perivitelline space. The entire experimental period is no more than 8 days. These two models combine cell labeling, micro-transplantation, and fluorescence imaging techniques, enabling the rapid evaluation of cancer metastasis in response to genetic and pharmacological manipulations.

Here, we describe xenograft zebrafish models using two different injection sites, i.e., perivitelline space and duct of Cuvier, to investigate the invasive behavior and to assess the intravasation and extravasation potential of human breast cancer cells, respectively.

In many cases, cancer patients do not die of a primary tumor, but rather because of metastasis. Although numerous rodent models are available for studying ...

Live-imaging of Breast Epithelial Cell Migration After the Transient Depletion of TIP60

The wound-healing assay is efficient and one of the most economical ways to study cell migration in vitro. Conventionally, images are taken at the beginning and end of an experiment using a phase-contrast microscope, and the migration abilities of cells are evaluated by the closure of wounds. However, cell movement is a dynamic phenomenon, and a conventional method does not allow for tracking single-cell movement. To improve current wound-healing assays, we use live-cell imaging techniques to monitor cell migration in real time. This method allows us to determine the cell migration rate based on a cell tracking system and provides a clearer distinction between cell migration and cell proliferation. Here, we demonstrate the use of live-cell imaging in wound-healing assays to study the different migration abilities of breast epithelial cells influenced by the presence of TIP60. As cell motility is highly dynamic, our method provides more insights into the processes of wound healing than a snapshot of wound closure taken with the traditional imaging techniques used for wound-healing assays.

Here, we present the real-time monitoring of cell migration in a wound-healing assay using TIP60-depleted MCF10A breast epithelial cells. The implementation of live-cell imaging techniques in our protocol allows us to analyze and visualize single-cell movement in real time and across time.

The wound-healing assay is efficient and one of the most economical ways to study cell migration in vitro. Conventionally, images are taken at the ...

Orthotopic Injection of Breast Cancer Cells into the Mice Mammary Fat Pad

A proper animal model is crucial for a better understanding of diseases. Animal models established by different methods (subcutaneous injections, xenografts, genetic manipulation, chemical reagents induction, etc.) have various pathological characters and play important roles in investigating certain aspects of diseases. Although no single model can totally mimic the whole human disease progression, orthotopic organs disease models with a proper stromal environment play an irreplaceable role in understanding diseases and screening for potential drugs. In this article, we describe how to implant breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pad in a simple, less invasive, and easy-to-handle way, and follow the metastasis to distant organs. With the proper features of primary tumor growth, breast and nipple pathological changes, and a high occurrence of other organs&#39; metastasis, this model maximumly mimics human breast cancer progression. Primary tumor growth in situ, long-distant metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer can be investigated by using this model.

Here, we present a protocol to implant breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pad in a simple, less invasive, and easy-to-handle way, and this mouse orthotopic breast cancer model with a proper mammary fat pad environment can be used to investigate various aspects of cancer.

A proper animal model is crucial for a better understanding of diseases. Animal models established by different methods (subcutaneous injections, ...

Modeling Breast Cancer via an Intraductal Injection of Cre-expressing Adenovirus into the Mouse Mammary Gland

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, possibly due to complex interactions between different cells of origins and oncogenic events. Mouse models are instrumental in gaining insights into these complex processes. Although many mouse models have been developed to study contributions of various oncogenic events and cells of origin to breast tumorigenesis, these models are often not cell-type or organ specific or cannot induce the initiation of mammary tumorigenesis in a temporally controlled manner. Here we describe a protocol to generate a new type of breast cancer mouse models based on the intraductal injection of Cre-expressing adenovirus (Ad-Cre) into mouse mammary glands (MGs). Due to the direct injection of Ad-Cre into mammary ducts, this approach is MG specific, without any unwanted cancer induction in other organs. The intraductal injection procedure can be performed in mice at different stages of their MG development (thus, it permits temporal control of cancer induction, starting from ~3-4 weeks of age). The cell-type specificity can be achieved by using different cell-type-specific promoters to drive Cre expression in the adenoviral vector. We show that luminal and basal mammary epithelial cells (MECs) can be tightly targeted for Cre/loxP-based genetic manipulation via an intraductal injection of Ad-Cre under the control of the Keratin 8 or Keratin 5 promoter, respectively. By incorporating a conditional Cre reporter (e.g., Cre/loxP-inducible Rosa26-YFP reporter), we show that MECs targeted by Ad-Cre, and tumor cells derived from them, can be traced by following the reporter-positive cells after intraductal injection.

The goal of this protocol is to describe a new breast cancer modeling approach based on the intraductal injection of Cre-expressing adenovirus into mouse mammary glands. This approach allows both cell-type- and organ-specific manipulation of oncogenic events in a temporally controlled manner.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, possibly due to complex interactions between different cells of origins and oncogenic events. Mouse models are ...

Evaluating the Differentiation Capacity of Mouse Prostate Epithelial Cells Using Organoid Culture

The prostate epithelium is comprised predominantly of basal and luminal cells. In vivo lineage tracing has been utilized to define the differentiation capacity of mouse prostate basal and luminal cells during development, tissue-regeneration and transformation. However, evaluating cell-intrinsic and extrinsic regulators of prostate epithelial differentiation capacity using a lineage tracing approach often requires extensive breeding and can be cost-prohibitive. In the prostate organoid assay, basal and luminal cells generate prostatic epithelium ex vivo. Importantly, primary epithelial cells can be isolated from mice of any genetic background or mice treated with any number of small molecules prior to, or after, plating into three-dimensional (3D) culture. Sufficient material for evaluation of differentiation capacity is generated after 7-10 days. Collection of basal-derived and luminal-derived organoids for (1) protein analysis by Western blot and (2) immunohistochemical analysis of intact organoids by whole-mount confocal microscopy enables researchers to evaluate the ex vivo differentiation capacity of prostate epithelial cells. When used in combination, these two approaches provide complementary information about the differentiation capacity of prostate basal and luminal cells in response to genetic or pharmacological manipulation.

Mouse prostate organoids represent a promising context to evaluate mechanisms that regulate differentiation. This paper describes an improved approach to establish prostate organoids, and introduces methods to (1) collect protein lysate from organoids, and (2) fix and stain organoids for whole-mount confocal microscopy.

The prostate epithelium is comprised predominantly of basal and luminal cells. In vivo lineage tracing has been utilized to define the differentiation ...

Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer

Preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic response are critical for translational breast cancer research. Immortalized cell lines are easy to grow and genetically modify to study molecular mechanisms, yet the selective pressure from cell culture often leads to genetic and epigenetic alterations over time. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models faithfully recapitulate the heterogeneity and drug response of human breast tumors. PDX models exhibit a relatively short latency after orthotopic transplantation that facilitates the investigation of breast tumor biology and drug response. The transplantable genetically engineered mouse models allow the study of breast tumor immunity. The current protocol describes the method to orthotopically transplant breast tumor fragments into the mammary fat pad followed by drug treatments. These preclinical models provide valuable approaches to investigate breast tumor biology, drug response, biomarker discovery and mechanisms of drug resistance.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and transplantable genetically engineered mouse models faithfully recapitulate human disease and are preferred models for basic and translational breast cancer research. Here, a method is described to orthotopically transplant breast tumor fragments into the mammary fat pad to study tumor biology and evaluate drug response.

Preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic response are critical for translational breast cancer research. ...

In Vitro Evaluation of Oncogenic Transformation in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

Tumorigenesis is a multi-step process in which cells acquire capabilities&#160;that allow their growth, survival, and dissemination under hostile conditions. Different tests seek to identify and quantify these hallmarks of cancerous cells; however, they often focus on a single aspect of cellular transformation and, in fact, multiple tests are required for their proper characterization. The purpose of this work is to provide researchers with a set of tools to assess cellular transformation in vitro from a broad perspective, thereby making it possible to draw sound conclusions.
A sustained proliferative signaling activation is the major feature of tumoral tissues and can be easily monitored under in vitro conditions by calculating the number of population doublings achieved over time. Besides, the growth of cells in 3D cultures allows their interaction with surrounding cells, resembling what occurs in vivo. This enables the evaluation of cellular aggregation and, together with immunofluorescent labeling of distinctive cellular markers, to obtain information on another relevant feature of tumoral transformation: the loss of proper organization. Another remarkable characteristic of transformed cells is their capacity to grow without attachment to other cells and to the extracellular matrix, which can be evaluated with the anchorage assay.
Detailed experimental procedures to evaluate cell growth rate, to perform immunofluorescent labeling of cell lineage markers in 3D cultures, and to test anchorage-independent cell growth in soft agar are provided. These methodologies are optimized for Breast Primary Epithelial Cells (BPEC) due to its relevance in breast cancer; however, procedures can be applied to other cell types after some adjustments.

This protocol provides experimental in vitro tools to evaluate the transformation of human mammary cells. Detailed steps to follow-up cell proliferation rate, anchorage-independent growth capacity, and distribution of cell lineages in 3D cultures with basement membrane matrix are described.

Tumorigenesis is a multi-step process in which cells acquire capabilities&#160;that allow their growth, survival, and dissemination under hostile ...

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are cancer cells with inherited or acquired stem cell-like characteristics. Despite their low frequency, they are major contributors to breast cancer initiation, relapse, metastasis and therapy resistance. It is imperative to understand the biology of breast cancer stem cells in order to identify novel therapeutic targets to treat breast cancer. Breast cancer stem cells are isolated and characterized based on expression of unique cell surface markers such as CD44, CD24 and enzymatic activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These ALDHhighCD44+CD24- cells constitute the BCSC population and can be isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for downstream functional studies. Depending on the scientific question, different in vitro and in vivo methods can be used to assess the functional characteristics of BCSCs. Here, we provide a detailed experimental protocol for isolation of human BCSCs from both heterogenous populations of breast cancer cells as well as primary tumor tissue obtained from breast cancer patients. In addition, we highlight downstream in vitro and in vivo functional assays including colony forming assays, mammosphere assays, 3D culture models and tumor xenograft assays that can be used to assess BCSC function.

This experimental protocol describes the isolation of BCSCs from breast cancer cell and tissue samples as well as the in vitro and in vivo assays that can be used to assess BCSC phenotype and function.

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are cancer cells with inherited or acquired stem cell-like characteristics. Despite their low frequency, they are major ...

Studying TGF-&#946; Signaling and TGF-&#946;-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Transforming growth factor-&#946; (TGF-&#946;) is a secreted multifunctional factor that plays a key role in intercellular communication. Perturbations of TGF-&#946; signaling can lead to breast cancer. TGF-&#946; elicits its effects on proliferation and differentiation via specific cell surface TGF-&#946; type I and type II receptors (i.e., T&#946;RI and T&#946;RII) that contain an intrinsic serine/threonine kinase domain. Upon TGF-&#946;-induced heteromeric complex formation, activated T&#946;RI elicits intracellular signaling by phosphorylating SMAD2 and SMAD3. These activated SMADs form heteromeric complexes with SMAD4 to regulate specific target genes, including plasminogen activation inhibitor 1 (PAI-1, encoded by the SERPINE1 gene). The induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows epithelial cancer cells at the primary site or during colonization at distant sites to gain an invasive phenotype and drive tumor progression. TGF-&#946; acts as a potent inducer of breast cancer invasion by driving EMT. Here, we describe systematic methods to investigate TGF-&#946; signaling and EMT responses using premalignant human MCF10A-RAS (M2) cells and mouse NMuMG epithelial cells as examples. We describe methods to determine TGF-&#946;-induced SMAD2 phosphorylation by Western blotting, SMAD3/SMAD4-dependent transcriptional activity using luciferase reporter activity and SERPINE1 target gene expression by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, methods are described to examine TGF-&#946;-induced EMT by measuring changes in morphology, epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression, filamentous actin staining and immunofluorescence staining of E-cadherin. Two selective small molecule TGF-&#946; receptor kinase inhibitors, GW788388 and SB431542, were used to block TGF-&#946;-induced SMAD2 phosphorylation, target genes and changes in EMT marker expression. Moreover, we describe the transdifferentiation of mesenchymal breast Py2T murine epithelial tumor cells into adipocytes. Methods to examine TGF-&#946;-induced signaling and EMT in breast cancer may contribute to new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer.

Studying TGF-&amp;#946; Signaling and TGF-&amp;#946;-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

We describe a systematic workflow to investigate TGF-&#946; signaling and TGF-&#946;-induced EMT by studying the protein and gene expression involved in this signaling pathway. The methods include Western blotting, a luciferase reporter assay, qPCR, and immunofluorescence staining.

Transforming growth factor-&#946; (TGF-&#946;) is a secreted multifunctional factor that plays a key role in intercellular communication. Perturbations of ...