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Establishment of a 3D model using primary human epithelial breast stem cells to identify tumorigenesis markers
Project
Project code: BfR-LMS-08-1322-605
Contract period: 01.03.2014
- 31.12.2016
Purpose of research: Applied research
Two-dimensional cell cultures are often used in in vitro toxicology to characterize toxic properties of substances. However, this conventional cell culture is not representative for the actual in vivo situation. A cultivation of cells in a tissue- like environment in an in vitro 3D model, on the other hand, permits studies of biological processes in a physiologically relevant context. The general architecture and function of mammary gland can be mimicked by using such a 3D culture. In this project, a 3D model of the terminal ductal lobular units of the human mammary gland, that are preferred places for tumor development, should be developed and characterized. For this purpose, molecular markers should be identified and on the basis of their expression carcinogenic processes are identifiable in cells. The model should be used for testing tumor promoting effects of hormone- like substances as part of their toxicological assessment.
The aim of the project is to develop a 3D model for testing tumor-promoting effects of hormone-like substances in the context of the toxicological evaluation. Therefore primary breast epithelial progenitor cells should be used from surgically removed tissue. The establishment of the model with primary cells was not possible. Therefore an already established model of permanent cell lines that reflects both normal breast epithelial stem cells (M13SV1) and malignant stages (M13SV1/ R2-2 und M13SV1/ R2-N1) was used within the project. The establishment of the 3D model in MatrigelTM has already succeeded. In the next step the differentiation process has to be characterized by fluorescence microscopy and gene expression levels.
Section overview
Subjects
- Toxicology