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Endothelial Induced EMT in Breast Epithelial Cells with Stem Cell Properties

Sigurdsson, Valgardur ; Hilmarsdottir, Bylgja ; Sigmundsdottir, Hekla ; Fridriksdottir, Agla J. R. ; Ringnér, Markus LU orcid ; Villadsen, Rene ; Borg, Åke LU ; Agnarsson, Bjarni A. ; Petersen, Ole William and Magnusson, Magnus K. , et al. (2011) In PLoS ONE 6(9).
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical event in cancer progression and is closely linked to the breast epithelial cancer stem cell phenotype. Given the close interaction between the vascular endothelium and cancer cells, especially at the invasive front, we asked whether endothelial cells might play a role in EMT. Using a 3D culture model we demonstrate that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT in D492 an immortalized breast epithelial cell line with stem cell properties. Endothelial induced mesenchymal-like cells (D492M) derived from D492, show reduced expression of keratins, a switch from E-Cadherin (E-Cad) to N-Cadherin (N-Cad) and enhanced migration. Acquisition of cancer stem cell associated characteristics... (More)
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical event in cancer progression and is closely linked to the breast epithelial cancer stem cell phenotype. Given the close interaction between the vascular endothelium and cancer cells, especially at the invasive front, we asked whether endothelial cells might play a role in EMT. Using a 3D culture model we demonstrate that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT in D492 an immortalized breast epithelial cell line with stem cell properties. Endothelial induced mesenchymal-like cells (D492M) derived from D492, show reduced expression of keratins, a switch from E-Cadherin (E-Cad) to N-Cadherin (N-Cad) and enhanced migration. Acquisition of cancer stem cell associated characteristics like increased CD44(high)/CD24(low) ratio, resistance to apoptosis and anchorage independent growth was also seen in D492M cells. Endothelial induced EMT in D492 was partially blocked by inhibition of HGF signaling. Basal-like breast cancer, a vascular rich cancer with stem cell properties and adverse prognosis has been linked with EMT. We immunostained several basal-like breast cancer samples for endothelial and EMT markers. Cancer cells close to the vascular rich areas show no or decreased expression of E-Cad and increased N-Cad expression suggesting EMT. Collectively, we have shown in a 3D culture model that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT in breast epithelial cells with stem cell properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate that basal-like breast cancer contains cells with an EMT phenotype, most prominently close to vascular rich areas of these tumors. We conclude that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT and may play a role in progression of basal-like breast cancer. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
6
issue
9
article number
e23833
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • wos:000294689200011
  • scopus:80052455345
  • pmid:21915264
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0023833
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
326413eb-95ee-4bfa-b914-c4eb621fcccf (old id 2183627)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:15:30
date last changed
2022-03-13 23:02:12
@article{326413eb-95ee-4bfa-b914-c4eb621fcccf,
  abstract     = {{Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical event in cancer progression and is closely linked to the breast epithelial cancer stem cell phenotype. Given the close interaction between the vascular endothelium and cancer cells, especially at the invasive front, we asked whether endothelial cells might play a role in EMT. Using a 3D culture model we demonstrate that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT in D492 an immortalized breast epithelial cell line with stem cell properties. Endothelial induced mesenchymal-like cells (D492M) derived from D492, show reduced expression of keratins, a switch from E-Cadherin (E-Cad) to N-Cadherin (N-Cad) and enhanced migration. Acquisition of cancer stem cell associated characteristics like increased CD44(high)/CD24(low) ratio, resistance to apoptosis and anchorage independent growth was also seen in D492M cells. Endothelial induced EMT in D492 was partially blocked by inhibition of HGF signaling. Basal-like breast cancer, a vascular rich cancer with stem cell properties and adverse prognosis has been linked with EMT. We immunostained several basal-like breast cancer samples for endothelial and EMT markers. Cancer cells close to the vascular rich areas show no or decreased expression of E-Cad and increased N-Cad expression suggesting EMT. Collectively, we have shown in a 3D culture model that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT in breast epithelial cells with stem cell properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate that basal-like breast cancer contains cells with an EMT phenotype, most prominently close to vascular rich areas of these tumors. We conclude that endothelial cells are potent inducers of EMT and may play a role in progression of basal-like breast cancer.}},
  author       = {{Sigurdsson, Valgardur and Hilmarsdottir, Bylgja and Sigmundsdottir, Hekla and Fridriksdottir, Agla J. R. and Ringnér, Markus and Villadsen, Rene and Borg, Åke and Agnarsson, Bjarni A. and Petersen, Ole William and Magnusson, Magnus K. and Gudjonsson, Thorarinn}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Endothelial Induced EMT in Breast Epithelial Cells with Stem Cell Properties}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3262036/2198960.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0023833}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}