Poster #071
Inactivation of Merlin in co-cultures of Mammospheres with Adipocytes
Mentors: Shehla Pervin, PhD; PI: Shehla Pervin, PhD
Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, is particularly aggressive and resistant to therapies, with mammary cancer stem cells (MCSCs) driving metastasis. The tumor suppressor Merlin regulates pathways such as Hippo, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK/ERK, and its inactivation is linked to uncontrolled proliferation. RNA sequencing of co-cultures showed increased hypoxia, ROS, and EMT gene signatures. This study observes Merlin status in co-cultures of adipocytes with mammospheres enriched by MCSCs. HCC1806 cells and mammospheres were propagated in appropriate media, and 3T3L1 adipocytes differentiated before immunoblot analysis. Intact Merlin was detected in HCC1806 cells, mammospheres, and co-cultures. Cleaved Merlin appeared in adipocytes and co-cultures. Phosphorylated Merlin was detectable in HCC1806 cells and mammospheres with adipocytes. Co-culturing mammospheres with adipocytes alters Merlin status, highlighting its role in TNBC progression.