Abstract
Direct intercellular communication is the transfer of ions and small molecules between cells in contact. Cells derived from human breast tissue have been examined to determine their pattern of direct communication, which was measured by the 3H-uridine nucleotide transfer method. The behaviour of mammary epithelium from normal and pathological sources has been compared with that of malignant mammary epithelium. Normal human mammary fibroblasts and epithelium demonstrate selectivity in direct communication. Thus although both transfer nucleotide to and from their own cell type, they do not transfer nucleotide between one another in heterologous co-culture. Further study of a variety of non-human fibroblasts and epithelium showed that cells may be functionally subdivided into selective communicators, non-selective communicators, and non-communicators. None of the malignant human breast cells examined showed selectivity in communication. Thus both primary cultures and established lines were either non-communicators or non-selective communicators. This loss of selectivity could favour the metastasis of malignant cells, enabling them either to ignore inhibitory growth control signals or alternatively to receive stimulatory signals from abnormal sources.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Azarnia R., Loewenstein W. R. Intercellular communication and tissue growth: VIII. A genetic analysis of junctional communication and cancerous growth. J Membr Biol. 1977 Jun 3;34(1):1–28. doi: 10.1007/BF01870290. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carrel A., Burrows M. T. CULTIVATION IN VITRO OF MALIGNANT TUMORS. J Exp Med. 1911 May 1;13(5):571–575. doi: 10.1084/jem.13.5.571. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gilula N. B., Reeves O. R., Steinbach A. Metabolic coupling, ionic coupling and cell contacts. Nature. 1972 Feb 4;235(5336):262–265. doi: 10.1038/235262a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hallowes R. C., Millis R., Pigott D., Shearer M., Stoker M. G., Taylor-Papadimitriou J. Results on a pilot study of cultures of human lacteal secretions and benign and malignant breast tumors. Clin Oncol. 1977 Mar;3(1):81–90. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kratochwil K. Organ specificity in mesenchymal induction demonstrated in the embryonic development of the mammary gland of the mouse. Dev Biol. 1969 Jul;20(1):46–71. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(69)90004-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LOEWENSTEIN W. R., KANNO Y. STUDIES ON AN EPITHELIAL (GLAND) CELL JUNCTION. I. MODIFICATIONS OF SURFACE MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY. J Cell Biol. 1964 Sep;22:565–586. doi: 10.1083/jcb.22.3.565. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Loewenstein W. R., Kanno Y. Intercellular communication and the control of tissue growth: lack of communication between cancer cells. Nature. 1966 Mar 19;209(5029):1248–1249. doi: 10.1038/2091248a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ozzello L. Epithelial-stromal junction of normal and dysplastic mammary glands. Cancer. 1970 Mar;25(3):586–600. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197003)25:3<586::aid-cncr2820250314>3.0.co;2-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pitts J. D., Simms J. W. Permeability of junctions between animal cells. Intercellular transfer of nucleotides but not of macromolecules. Exp Cell Res. 1977 Jan;104(1):153–163. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(77)90078-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- VAN DUUREN B. L. Identification of some polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette-smoke condensate. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1958 Jul;21(1):1–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]