Development of a Pig Mammary Epithelial Cell Culture Model as a Non-Clinical Tool for Studying Epithelial Barrier-A Contribution from the IMI-ConcePTION Project.

Chiara Bernardini,Michele Bouisset-Leonard,Monica Forni,Pieter Annaert,Nina Nauwelaerts,Augusta Zannoni,Neel Deferm,Giuseppe Sarli,Maria Laura Bacci,Roberta Salaroli,Domenico Ventrella,Debora La Mantia

doi:10.3390/ani11072012

Chiara Bernardini, Michele Bouisset-Leonard + Show 10 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072012

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Abstract

Simple SummaryThe information about the risks related to the use of medication during breastfeeding is lacking for most commonly used drugs. The ConcePTION project aims to fill this gap using multiple approaches. Within the project, the pig has been selected as the most appropriate in vivo animal model. In agreement with the application of the “3Rs” principle (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) and international legislations, the present paper reports the establishment of cellular lines of porcine mammary epithelial cells as a valid tool to study the mammary epithelial barrier function in vitro.The ConcePTION project aims at generating further knowledge about the risks related to the use of medication during breastfeeding, as this information is lacking for most commonly used drugs. Taking into consideration multiple aspects, the pig model has been considered by the consortium as the most appropriate choice. The present research was planned to develop an efficient method for the isolation and culture of porcine Mammary Epithelial Cells (pMECs) to study the mammary epithelial barrier in vitro. Mammary gland tissues were collected at a local slaughterhouse, dissociated and the selected cellular population was cultured, expanded and characterized by morphology, cell cycle analysis and immunophenotyping. Their ability to create a barrier was tested by TEER measurement and sodium fluorescein transport activity. Expression of 84 genes related to drug transporters was evaluated by a PCR array. Our results show that primary cells express epithelial cell markers: CKs, CK18, E-Cad and tight junctions molecules ZO-1 and OCL. All the three pMEC cellular lines were able to create a tight barrier, although with different strengths and kinetics, and express the main ABC and SLC drug transporters. In conclusion, in the present paper we have reported an efficient method to obtain primary pMEC lines to study epithelial barrier function in the pig model.

Highlights

ConcePTION is a European IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) project, approved inApril 2019, with the aim of generating accurate knowledge about the use of medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding
ConcePTION Project, which aims at generating further knowledge about the use of medIn theduring present study, we successfully developed a new method to produce pig commamication pregnancy and breastfeeding, as this information is lacking for most
Our results indicated that the three populations express markers typical of mammary epithelial cells: cytokeratins and epithelial cadherin

Summary

Introduction

ConcePTION is a European IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) project, approved inApril 2019, with the aim of generating accurate knowledge about the use of medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Work Package 3 (WP3) of ConcePTION aims to generate a non-clinical testing platform to establish drug transfer into human breast milk, and subsequent neonatal exposure. To achieve this goal, different approaches will be followed including in vivo and in vitro studies with animal models. Animal models have been used successfully in the past to predict the safety of maternal medication during breastfeeding, but caution is necessary due to species specific differences (e.g., in transporters, enzymes and milk composition) [2]. Among different animal species considered, the pig has been chosen as the most fit for purpose model within the ConcePTION project [3,4]. Within the complex structure of a functional mammary gland, mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are engaged in the secretory function and in xenobiotic transfer from mother to newborn [5,6]

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