Symposium: Role of the extracellular matrix in mammary development. Regulation of milk protein and basement membrane gene expression: The influence of the extracellular matrix

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Journal of Dairy Science; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(88)79879-3· OSTI ID:5266210

Aggeler, J; Park, C S; Bissell, M J

Synthesis and secretion of milk proteins ({alpha}-casein, {beta}-casein, {gamma}-casein, and transferrin) by cultured primary mouse mammary epithelial cells is modulated by the extracellular matrix. In cells grown on released or floating type I collagen gels, mRNA for {beta}-casein and transferrin is increased as much as 30-fold over cells grown on plastic. Induction of {beta}-casein expression depends strongly on the presence of lactogenic hormones, especially prolactin, in the culture. When cells are plated onto partially purified reconstituted basement membrane, dramatic changes in morphology and milk protein gene expression are observed. Cells cultured on the matrix for 6 to 8 d in the presence of prolactin, insulin, and hydrocortisone form hollow spheres and duct-like structures that are completely surrounded by matrix. The cells lining these spheres appear actively secretory and are oriented with their apices facing the lumen. Hybridization experiments indicate that mRNA for {beta}-casein can be increased as much as 70-fold in these cultures. Because > 90% of the cultured cells synthesize immunoreactive {beta}-casein, as compared with only 40% of cells in the late pregnant gland, the matrix appears to be able to induce protein expression in previously silent cells. Synthesis of laminin and assembly of a mammary-specific basal lamina by cells cultured on different extracellular matrices also appears to depend on the presence of lactogenic hormones. These studies provide support for the concept of dynamic reciprocity in which complex interactions between extracellular matrix and the cellular cytoskeleton contribute to the induction and maintenance of tissue-specific gene expression in the mammary gland.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5266210
• Journal Information: Journal of Dairy Science; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Dairy Science; (USA) Vol. 71:10; ISSN 0022-0302; ISSN JDSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL TISSUES
BODY
CASEIN
CELL CULTURES
EPITHELIUM
GENE REGULATION
GLANDS
GLOBULINS
GLOBULINS-BETA
HYBRIDIZATION
MAMMARY GLANDS
MESSENGER-RNA
METALLOPROTEINS
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RNA
TISSUES
TRANSFERRIN