EpH4 Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cell Line

Mammary epithelial cells are a model for cellular plasticity, the ability to undergo varied morphological changes. One of the significant aspects of mammary-derived tumors is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which gives rise to the migratory behavior required for metastasis (1). Cellular plasticity makes mammary epithelial cell models valuable for the study of breast cancer malignancy in addition to hormonal regulation of differentiation and epithelial cell polarization.Eph4 is a spontaneously immortalized cell line derived from primary murine mammary epithelial cells (2). EpH4 cells can be induced to synthesize milk proteins, such as caseins, upon the induction with lactogenic hormones such as prolactin, hydrocortisone, and insulin. For normal maintenance Eph4 cells should be cultured at high density (semi-confluency) and passaged before reaching confluency to avoid polarization and selective culture of single cells. Post-confluent Eph4 cells undergo polarization and formation of hemicysts or dome-like structures characterized by unidirectional transport of ions (3). Source:Eph4 cell line is a spontaneously immortalized clone derived from primary mammary epithelial cells of a female BALB/c mouse.Research Category:Cancer