Extended Data Fig. 3: Collective invasion of MCF-7 cells in dense collagen matrix depends on MMP activity.
From: Cell–cell adhesion and 3D matrix confinement determine jamming transitions in breast cancer invasion
a, E-cadherin localization in collectively invading MCF-7 cells in coculture with MRC-5 fibroblasts. Micrograph representing 3 independent experiments. b, Fibroblast-generated tracks of least resistance in HD collagen containing MCF-7 strand revealed by Col 3/4 staining. Micrograph from 3 independent experiments. c, MRC-5 and HMF fibroblasts-supported invasion of MCF-7 cells into HD collagen. Micrograph from 3 independent experiments. d, MCF-7 strand length in coculture with MRC-5 and HMF fibroblasts. Median (red line); dots represent n = 34 (MRC-5) and 27 (HMF) spheroids/condition (3 independent experiments). e, MT1-MMP/MMP14 expression by MRC-5, HMF and MCF-7 cells. Western blot from 2 independent experiments. Unmodified scan of the Western blot is provided in Source data. f, Collective invasion of MCF-7 cells into HD collagen matrix after overexpression of MT1-MMP/MMP14. Insert, parental MCF-7 cell spheroid. g, Number of collective MCF-7 strands in HD collagen and MCF-7 cells after MT1-MMP overexpression. Data represent n = 17 (parental) and 30 (MMP14-OE) spheroids/condition (2 independent experiments). h-j, MCF-7 collective invasion into HD collagen with fibroblasts (h), LD collagen (i), and LD or ID interface assay (j) after interference with MMPs (GM6001). Micrographs in (h-j) from 3 independent experiments. Length of MCF-7 strands (h, i) or sheet area (j). Data in (h-i) represent n = 71/71 (h), 44/39 (i) spheroids for DMSO/GM6001, respectively, or in (j) n = 21/32 (LD) and 16/10 (ID) spheroids for DMSO/GM6001, respectively (3 independent experiments). Median (red line), dots representing the means/spheroid (d, g, h, i, j). P values, two-tailed Mann-Whitney test. Low (LD), intermediate (ID) and high (HD) density collagen matrices are described in Supplementary Table 1. Scale bars, 100 µm (a, b); 200 µm (c, f, h-j). For statistical source data, see Source data for ED Fig. 3.
