The epithelial-mesenchymal transition generates cells with properties of stem cells.
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key developmental program that is often activated during cancer invasion and metastasis. We here report that the induction of an EMT in immortalized human mammary epithelial cells (HMLEs) results in the acquisition of mesenchymal traits and in the expression of stem-cell markers. Furthermore, we show that those cells have an increased ability to form mammospheres, a property associated with mammary epithelial stem cells. Independent of this, stem cell-like cells isolated from HMLE cultures form mammospheres and express markers similar to those of HMLEs that have undergone an EMT. Moreover, stem-like cells isolated either from mouse or human mammary glands or mammary carcinomas express EMT markers. Finally, transformed human mammary epithelial cells that have undergone an EMT form mammospheres, soft agar colonies, and tumors more efficiently. These findings illustrate a direct link between the EMT and the gain of epithelial stem cell properties.
Mani
Sendurai A
SA
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. smani@mdanderson.org
Guo
Wenjun
W
Liao
Mai-Jing
MJ
Eaton
Elinor Ng
EN
Ayyanan
Ayyakkannu
A
Zhou
Alicia Y
AY
Brooks
Mary
M
Reinhard
Ferenc
F
Zhang
Cheng Cheng
CC
Shipitsin
Michail
M
Campbell
Lauren L
LL
Polyak
Kornelia
K
Brisken
Cathrin
C
Yang
Jing
J
Weinberg
Robert A
RA
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology*; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D051927:CD24 Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors