Applications
- Drug uptake studies
- Toxicological research
- Wound healing research
- Oncology
- Cell differentiation studies
- Respiratory disease research
Features
- Cytokeratin positive
- Routinely morphology checked
- Cryopreserved at second passage
Human Mammary Epithelial Cells (HMEpC)
HMEpC are isolated from the human adult mammary gland and stain positive for cytokeratin.
Hormones extensively control the development of the mammary glands. Throughout puberty, the glands begin to develop in females in response to ovarian hormones. Further on during pregnancy, rising levels of estrogen and progesterone cause additional growth and differentiation. Finally, due to the presence of the hormone prolactin in late pregnancy, milk secretion (lactation) begins.
Since mammary gland cells can easily be induced to grow and multiply by hormones, HMEpC are very well suited for developmental investigations. In addition, they are useful for breast cancer in vitro research since breast cancer usually originates in the lobules or ducts of the mammary glands.