title: Role of extracellular matrix and prolactin in functional differentiation of bovine BME-UV1 mammary epithelial cells.
abstract: Interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial cells are necessary for proper organisation and function of the epithelium. In the present study we show that bovine mammary epithelial cell line BME-UV1 cultured on ECM components, commercially available as Matrigel, constitutes a good model for studying mechanisms controlling functional differentiation of the bovine mammary gland. In contact with Matrigel BME-UV1 cells induce apicobasal polarity, and within 16 days form three dimensional (3D) acinar structures with a centrally localized hollow lumen, which structurally resemble mammary alveoli present in the functionally active mammary gland. We have shown that the 3D culture system enables a high expression and proper localisation of integrin receptors and tight junction proteins in BME-UV1 cells to be induced. This effect was not obtained in cells grown in the classical 2D culture system on plastic. Moreover, ECM highly stimulated the synthesis of one of the major milk proteins, beta-casein, even in the absence of prolactin. Our results show that contact with ECM plays an important role in the lactogenic activity of bovine MECs, however, prolactin is necessary for the efficient secretion of milk proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozłowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilczak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Motyl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajewska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D003470:Culture Media; D011388:Prolactin