The Effect of 2D and 3D Cell Cultures on E-Cadherin Profile and Drug Resistance in Huh7 Cell

Abstract

Studies have validated three-dimensional (3D) culture of cells differs significantly from the two-dimensional (2D) model in terms of drug efficacy due to complex mechanisms, including up-regulation of drug efflux, acquisition of stem cell-like properties by the cancer cells, aberrant apoptotic, etc. This study aimed to delineate the change of expression profile of E-cadherin in hepatoma cells Huh7 under the 3D condition and 2D condition. Cells were culture in ultra-low attachment plates to form multicellular 3D spheroids. The expression profile of E-cadherin and drug resistance were compared between 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids. E-cadherin was located at cell boundaries and cell membrane in 3D spheroids of Huh7 cells, however, E-cadherin was expressed on the cytoplasm and nuclei in 2D monolayers. In addition, high expression of E-cadherin and hepatic stem cell markers were found in 3D spheroids, and 3D spheroids showed greater resistance to pharmacological compounds. It seems 3D culture promoted the membrane localization of E-cadherin, and the change of MDR-related markers enhanced resistance in Huh7 3D spheroids. This study increases the knowledge of the effect of 3D arrangement in cancer cells.