Regulation of functional cytodifferentiation and histogenesis in mammary epithelial cells: Role of the extracellular matrix

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.898061· OSTI ID:5547220

Bissell, M J; Ram, T G ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)

Primary mammary epithelial cells provide a versatile system for the study of hormone and extracellular matrix (ECM) influences on tissue-specific gene expression. The authors have characterized the formation of aveolarlike morphogenesis and mammary-specific functional differentiation that occur when these cells are cultured on a reconstituted basement membrane (EHS). Cells cultured on EHS exhibit many ultrastructural and biochemical features indicative of polarized and functionally differentiated mammary epithelium in vivo. The increased expression and specific vectorial secretion of milk proteins into lumina formed in culture are accompanied by large increases in milk protein mRNA expression. However, when individual ECM components are tested, smaller increases in milk protein mRNA are measured on heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) and laminin, and these responses are not associated with full functional cytodifferentiation or histotypic configuration. This indicates that multiple levels of regulation are involved in mammary-specific gene expression, and that in addition to individual ligand requirements cooperative interactions between various ECM molecules and cells are necessary for functional differentiation in culture. They have also shown that endogenous production of ECM molecules and changes in cell geometry are correlated with changes in functional and histogenic gene expression. They have previously proposed a model of cell-ECM interactions that is consistent with these data.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5547220
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA) Vol. 80; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL TISSUES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHEMISTRY
CYTOCHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
EPITHELIUM
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOOD
GENE REGULATION
GLANDS
HORMONES
ISOTOPES
LACTATION
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMARY GLANDS
MATERIALS
MESSENGER-RNA
MILK
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
RNA
SULFUR 35
SULFUR ISOTOPES
TISSUES