title: Basement membrane induced differentiation of HEC-1B(L) endometrial adenocarcinoma cells affects both morphology and gene expression.
abstract: In vitro studies of endometrial carcinogenesis have been hampered by dedifferentiation of the cells in culture. Using the endometrial carcinoma cell line HEC-1B(L), we aimed to establish and characterize culture conditions that preserve a more differentiated state of the tumor cells. HEC-1B(L) cells grown in a serum-free defined medium on plastic (PL/SFDM) on top of a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel, MG/SFDM) or in a thick layer of Matrigel showed pronounced morphological differentiation as compared with HEC-1B(L) cells cultured on plastic in a medium containing serum (PL/10% FCS). Features of differentiation included cuboidal to columnar cell shape and an increase of rough endoplastic reticulum in Matrigel cultures. Gene expression of HEC-1B(L) cells was studied by metabolic [35S]methionine labeling and SDS-gel electrophoresis. HEC-1B(L) cells cultured in the presence of Matrigel showed two additional secretory proteins approximately 31 kD and 77 kD in size. rt-PCR was used to screen cell cultures for the presence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and lactoferrin-mRNA, genes typically expressed by normal endometrial epithelium. We found no expression of the estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor. Lactoferrin-mRNA was present under all culture conditions tested. Our results suggest a regulatory role of the extracellular matrix for the differentiation of the HEC-1B(L) cell line.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Biochemische Endokrinologie, Medizinische Universtitat zu Lubeck, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hopfer
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rinehart
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vollmer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen; D007781:Lactoferrin