title: Neural Transdifferentiation: MAPTau Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In tumor cells, aberrant differentiation programs have been described. Several neuronal proteins have been found associated with morphological neuronal-glial changes in breast cancer (BCa). These neuronal proteins have been related to mechanisms that are involved in carcinogenesis; however, this regulation is not well understood. Microtubule-associated protein-tau (MAP-Tau) has been describing in BCa but not its variants. This finding could partly explain the neuronal-glial morphology of BCa cells. Our aim was to determine mRNA expression of MAP-tau variants 2, 4 and 6 in breast cancer cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured cell lines MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3 and T47D were observed under phase-contrast microscopy for neural morphology and analyzed for gene expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, 4 and 6 by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding morphology like neural/glial cells, T47D line shown more cells with these features than MDA-MB-231 and SKBR. In another hand, we found much greater mRNA expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, and to a lesser extent 4 and 6, in T47D cells than the other lines. In conclusion, regulation of MAP- Tau could bring about changes in cytoskeleton, cell morphology and motility; these findings cast further light on neuronal transdifferentiation in BCa.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Oxidative Stress, Mexico City, Mexico, E-mail : cindimiel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lara-Padilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miliar-Garcia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomez-Lopez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romero-Morelos
authors.forename: Ci
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazan-Mendez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfaro-Rodriguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anaya-Ruiz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bandala
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C054369:MAPT protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016875:tau Proteins