TY - JOUR
T1 - Stable differences in intrinsic mitochondrial membrane potential of tumor cell subpopulations reflect phenotypic heterogeneity
AU - Houston, Michele A.
AU - Augenlicht, Leonard H.
AU - Heerdt, Barbara G.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Heterogeneity among cells that constitute a solid tumor is important in determining disease progression. Our previous work established that, within a population of metastatic colonic tumor cells, there are minor subpopulations of cells with stable differences in their intrinsic mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and that these differences in m are linked to tumorigenic phenotype. Here we expanded this work to investigate primary mammary, as well as colonic, tumor cell lines. We show that within a primary mammary tumor cell population, and in both primary and metastatic colonic tumor cell populations, there are subpopulations of cells with significant stable variations in intrinsic Δψm. In each of these 3 tumor cell populations, cells with relatively higher intrinsic m exhibit phenotypic properties consistent with promotion of tumor cell survival and expansion. However, additional properties associated with invasive potential appear in cells with higher intrinsic Δψm only from the metastatic colonic tumor cell line. Thus, it is likely that differences in the intrinsic Δψm among cells that constitute primary mammary tumor populations, as well as primary and metastatic colonic tumor populations, are markers of an acquired tumor phenotype which, within the context of the tumor, influence the probability that particular cells will contribute to disease progression.
AB - Heterogeneity among cells that constitute a solid tumor is important in determining disease progression. Our previous work established that, within a population of metastatic colonic tumor cells, there are minor subpopulations of cells with stable differences in their intrinsic mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and that these differences in m are linked to tumorigenic phenotype. Here we expanded this work to investigate primary mammary, as well as colonic, tumor cell lines. We show that within a primary mammary tumor cell population, and in both primary and metastatic colonic tumor cell populations, there are subpopulations of cells with significant stable variations in intrinsic Δψm. In each of these 3 tumor cell populations, cells with relatively higher intrinsic m exhibit phenotypic properties consistent with promotion of tumor cell survival and expansion. However, additional properties associated with invasive potential appear in cells with higher intrinsic Δψm only from the metastatic colonic tumor cell line. Thus, it is likely that differences in the intrinsic Δψm among cells that constitute primary mammary tumor populations, as well as primary and metastatic colonic tumor populations, are markers of an acquired tumor phenotype which, within the context of the tumor, influence the probability that particular cells will contribute to disease progression.
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U2 - 10.1155/2011/978583
DO - 10.1155/2011/978583
M3 - Article
C2 - 21760799
AN - SCOPUS:80052655529
SN - 1687-8876
JO - International Journal of Cell Biology
JF - International Journal of Cell Biology
M1 - 978583
ER -