Reversion of the malignant phenotype of human breast cells in three-dimensional culture and in vivo by integrin blocking antibodies.

TitleReversion of the malignant phenotype of human breast cells in three-dimensional culture and in vivo by integrin blocking antibodies.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsWeaver VM, Petersen OW, Wang F, Larabell CA, Briand P, Damsky C, Bissell MJ
JournalJ Cell Biol
Volume137
Issue1
Pagination231-45
Date Published1997 Apr 7
ISSN0021-9525
KeywordsAnimals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antigens, CD, Antigens, CD29, Basement Membrane, Binding, Competitive, Breast Neoplasms, Cell Division, Extracellular Matrix, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Genotype, Humans, Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments, Integrin beta4, Mice, Phenotype, Rats, Signal Transduction, Transformation, Genetic, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Abstract

In a recently developed human breast cancer model, treatment of tumor cells in a 3-dimensional culture with inhibitory beta1-integrin antibody or its Fab fragments led to a striking morphological and functional reversion to a normal phenotype. A stimulatory beta1-integrin antibody proved to be ineffective. The newly formed reverted acini re-assembled a basement membrane and re-established E-cadherin-catenin complexes, and re-organized their cytoskeletons. At the same time they downregulated cyclin D1, upregulated p21(cip,wat-1), and stopped growing. Tumor cells treated with the same antibody and injected into nude mice had significantly reduced number and size of tumors in nude mice. The tissue distribution of other integrins was also normalized, suggesting the existence of intimate interactions between the different integrin pathways as well as adherens junctions. On the other hand, nonmalignant cells when treated with either alpha6 or beta4 function altering antibodies continued to grow, and had disorganized colony morphologies resembling the untreated tumor colonies. This shows a significant role of the alpha6/beta4 heterodimer in directing polarity and tissue structure. The observed phenotypes were reversible when the cells were disassociated and the antibodies removed. Our results illustrate that the extracellular matrix and its receptors dictate the phenotype of mammary epithelial cells, and thus in this model system the tissue phenotype is dominant over the cellular genotype.

Alternate JournalJ. Cell Biol.
PubMed ID9105051
PubMed Central IDPMC2139858
Grant ListCA-64786 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States