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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Modeling Breast Cancer in Human Breast Tissue using a Microphysiological System
Published on: April 23, 2021
OPTIMIZATION OF EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING RECIPROCAL INFLUENCE OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM ANIMALIS AND HUMAN
T Kozak1, O Lykhova1, T Serhiichuk2
1R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Background:
The development of human breast cancer (BC) is known to be closely related to disturbances in the mammary gland microbiota. Bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium are an important component of normal breast microbiota and exert antitumor activity. The molecular-biological mechanisms of interaction between BC cells and microbiota members remain poorly studied yet. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize an experimental model system for the co-cultivation of BC cells with Bifidobacterium animalis in vitro.
Materials And Methods:
Human ВС cells of the MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231 lines, as well as live and heat-inactivated bacteria of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. animalis) were used as research objects. The growth kinetics and viability of B. animalis in the presence of different ВС cell lines and without them were determined by both the turbidimetry method and seeding on an elective nutrient medium. Glucose consumption and lactate production by bifidobacteria were assessed by biochemical methods. The viability of BC cells was determined by a standard colorimetric method.
Results:
The growth kinetics of B. animalis in the complete DMEM nutrient medium showed standard patterns. The indicators of glucose consumption and lactate production of B. animalis confirm its physiological metabolic activity under the growth conditions. The presence of BC cells in the model system did not affect the duration of the growth phases of the B. animalis cells' population but contributed to the increase in their counts. A significant decrease in the number of live BC cells of all studied lines was observed only after 48 h of co-cultivation with live B. animalis. To achieve similar suppression of the BC cell viability, 10-30-fold higher counts of heatinactivated bacteria were required compared to live ones.
Conclusions:
The optimal conditions for co-cultivation of human BC cells and living B. animalis cells in vitro have been identified.
