Figure 7. Preadipocytes treated with vitamin D₃ modulate hormone induced organoid growth.

Ability of wild type adipocytes to modulate the growth of VDR WT (A) and KO (B) organoids in the presence of hormone or growth factor stimulation. Organoids cultured along with wild type adipocytes embedded in Type I Collagen in the presence of vehicle (Et), estrogen (E, 30nM), progesterone (P, 60nM) or epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10ng/ml) in the absence or presence of 25D₃ (250nM) or 1,25D₃ (100nM). 25D₃ and 1,25D₃ induce organoid growth inhibition even in the presence of hormone or growth factor stimulation in both WT and KO organoids when co-cultured with wild type breast adipocytes. n=3–5 organoids/genotype/treatment and n>5 branches measured/organoid. Similar letters above the bars designate significance between treatments comparing either vehicle (Et) versus hormone or growth factor stimulation in the presence or absence of 25D₃ or 1,25D or comparing the baseline hormone or growth factor stimulation alone versus having that stimulation in the presence of 25D₃ or 1,25D₃ -p<0.05.