MMP1, MMP9, and COX2 Expressions in Promonocytes Are Induced by Breast Cancer Cells and Correlate with Collagen Degradation, Transformation-Like Morphological Changes in MCF-10A Acini, and Tumor Aggressiveness
Figure 1
Expression of genes associated with tumor malignancy. (a) Breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and promonocytes (U937) were cultured individually in monolayer (2D) or in a Matrigel base (3D) or cocultured (CC) in BRC and monocyte pares in the 3D system. Cell lineages were independently isolated and gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Fold changes are presented related to the 2D expression; when there was not detectable expression in 2D, 3D single cultures served as the basal expression (OPN for MCF-7, MMP2 for MDA-MB-231 and U937, and MMP9 for U937). Higher and lower expression than basal are marked as positive or negative numbers, respectively. CC (MCF-7) and CC (231) indicate U937 cells isolated from cocultures with MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells. (b) Immunocytochemistry of MMP9 levels. Intensity of signal was quantified for 100 cells for each experiment and the average value is presented. (c) Representative images of MMP9 levels in MDA-MB-231 and U937 cells after single cultures or cocultured together. Bars with asterisks represent comparisons with statistical significant differences (). Results are from three independent experiments and only relevant comparisons are presented (CC against 3D and U937/MDA-MB-231 CC against U937/MCF-7 CC).
