Multiparameter analyses of three-dimensionally cultured tumor spheroids based on respiratory activity and comprehensive gene expression profiles

Anal Biochem. 2013 Aug 15;439(2):187-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2013.04.020. Epub 2013 Apr 27.

Abstract

Multicellular spheroids of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) formed with two different three-dimensional (3D) culture methods were evaluated in detail on the basis of respiratory activity and high-throughput gene expression analysis. The spheroids formed with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwell arrays indicated significant restriction of the spheroid size, whereas their respiratory activity was 2-fold greater than that formed with the hanging drop culture method. Fluidigm BioMark dynamic array was used for comprehensive and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis on the samples whose respiratory activity had been measured. Genes involved in cellular senescence and glucose metabolism indicated significantly higher values for the PDMS microwell culture method than for the hanging drop culture method (P<0.05). Interestingly, samples formed with the PDMS microwell culture method showed stronger responses for glycolysis than those formed with the hanging drop method. These results illustrate the power of multiparameter analysis to characterize multicellular spheroids cultured in different microenvironments even if they have the same morphology.

Keywords: High-throughput qPCR; Multicellular tumor spheroids; PDMS microwell array; Respiratory activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
  • Protein Array Analysis / methods
  • Transcriptome / physiology*