3D in vitro culture of HMF induces an increased transition of MCF-DCIS cells.

<p>(A) Different morphologies of HMFs in 2D vs. 3D conditions. These images clearly show that HMFs in 3D have more fiber-like structures. The scale bar represents 60 µm. (B) Conceptual illustration of the difference of HMF behaviors in 2D and 3D. The conditioned medium collected from 3D culture of HMF (3D CM) stimulates invasive transition more than the conditioned medium collected from 2D culture of HMF (2D CM), and stimulates more invasive transition of MCF-DCIS cells in 3D. Outlines of MCF-DCIS clusters cultured in 3D mixed matrix with 3D CM and 2D CM. The clusters cultured with 3D CM produced more elongated clusters with aspect ratio (AR) 1.57. Scale bar is 100 μm. (C) Bar graph showing average aspect ratio of MCF-DCIS clusters cultured with control (serum free medium, mono), 2D HMF (co-cultured with HMFs in 2D), and 3D HMF (co-cultured with HMFs in 3D). ‡ represents p value of 0.048. (D) Bar graph showing data obtained from transwell invasion assays with conditioned media from 2D culture of HMF (2D HMF) and 3D culture of HMF (3D HMF). ‡ represents p value of 0.022.