The mammary gland is another "organ in a test tube"
In the laboratory, a "mini-breast" was grown from breast tissue
Copper news based on Research in Germany: Mini-Breast grown in petri-dishes – a new tool for cancer researchEmployees of the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich reported that they managed to grow breast tissue in laboratory conditions.
The authors of the study, led by Christina Scheel, developed a method that allows the cultivation of human breast epithelial cells. To do this, scientists used tissues remaining after cosmetic breast reduction operations and a transparent gel in which cells could divide and migrate in the same way as it happens in the mammary gland itself during puberty. In particular, in such an environment, cells divide, forming hollow tubes and alveoli (photo: Haruko Mira / Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen). So it turned out to be a "mini-breast" – a laboratory sample on which it is possible to simulate the processes in the mammary gland.
Scientists have noticed that the behavior of cells with regenerative ability is determined by the physical properties of their environment. "We have shown that an increase in the rigidity of the gel led to an increase in the area of cell distribution, that is, to an increase in their invasiveness. Similar cell behavior is observed in breast cancer," said study co–author Elena Linnemann (Jelena Linnemann).
The scientists noted that the resulting tissue will serve as a model for studying how normal breast stem cells function. The authors of the study believe that in the future they will be able to clarify the mechanisms of the occurrence of malignant neoplasms in the organ, since cancer cells adopt the characteristics of stem cells. "We will be able to find out how, for example, these processes are controlled at the molecular level. The data obtained will allow us to develop new strategies for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer," said Lisa Meixner, co–author of the study.
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18.06.2015