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 5
Analysis of MCF-10A acini morphology. MCF-10A acini were formed in a Matrigel-based 3D system in the presence of supernatant from MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 BRC cells or from cocultures of them and U937 cells. Acini were evaluated based on their shape, structural integrity, size, and presence of a lumen. MCF-10A cells grown in the corresponding dilution of supernatant from an MCF-10A culture were used as control and as a reference of normal acini. (a) Graph representing the average of the frequencies of acini with altered morphology in each culture condition. (b) Graph representing the average size of the acini. (c) Microphotographs of examples of acini that were typically formed under the different culture conditions. Results are from three independent experiments using independent isolates of supernatant. Statistical significance was estimated ().
