title: Immunohistochemical characterization and functional identification of mammary gland telocytes in the self-assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue in vitro.
abstract: Telocyte (TC) as a special stromal cell exists in mammary gland and might play an important role in the balance of epithelium-stroma of mammary gland. Considering that different types of breast interstitial cells influence the development and progression of breast cancer, TCs may have its distinct role in this process. We here studied the roles of TCs in the self-assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue. We co-cultured primary isolated TCs and other breast stromal cells with breast cancer EMT-6 cells in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds to reconstitute breast cancer tissue in vitro. Using histology methods, we investigated the immunohistochemical characteristics and potential functions of TCs in reconstituted breast cancer tissue. TCs in primary mammary gland stromal cells with long and thin overlapping cytoplasmic processes, expressed c-kit/CD117, CD34 and vimentin in reconstitute breast cancer tissue. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the telocyte-like cells closely communicated with breast cancer cells as well as other stromal cells, and might serve as a bridge that directly linked the adjacent cells through membrane-to-membrane contact. Compared with cancer tissue sheets of EMT-6 alone, PCNA proliferation index analysis and TUNEL assay showed that TCs and other breast stromal cells facilitated the formation of typical nest structure, promoted the proliferation of breast cancer cells, and inhibited their apoptosis. In conclusion, we successfully reconstituted breast cancer tissue in vitro, and it seems to be attractive that TCs had potential functions in self-assembly of EMT-6/stromal cells reconstituted breast cancer tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yongchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shuanghong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Cuimi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Zhiyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Guili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weizhen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Siyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Changyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003094:Collagen; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007797:Laminin; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011509:Proteoglycans; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014746:Vimentin; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit