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 ...

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