Background: Human CD133 + hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are a specific subset of cells and can regulate the malignancy of tumors. However, how CD133 + HPCs affect the malignancy of human breast cancer has not been clarified.Methods: The CD133 + HPCs were isolated and purified from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) .We used in vitro culture of the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell line, and MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells into nude mice in order to tested whether CD133 + HPCs affected the apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Results: Co-culture with CD133 + HPCs, but not UCB CD133- cells, promoted the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells, accompanied by reducing their spontaneous apoptosis in vitro and co-administration with CD133 + HPCs significantly enhanced the growth of implanted breast cancer in vivo. Furthermore, co-culture with CD133 + HPCs, enhanced the invasion of breast cancer cells, N-cadherin and Vimentin expression, but reduced E-cadherin expression in Breast cancer cells.Conclusions: The data indicated that CD133 + HPCs enhanced the malignancy of breast cancer cells by inhibiting their spontaneous apoptosis and promoting the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition. These findings may provide new insights in the role of human CD133 + HPCs in the pathogenic process of breast cancer. Therefore, CD133 + HPCs may be a new therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

Background: Human CD133+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are a specific subset of cells that can regulate tumor malignancy. However, the mechanism by which CD133+ HPCs affect the malignancy of human breast cancer has not been reported. Methods: CD133+ HPCs were isolated and purified from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) .We used in vitro culture of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice to evaluate whether CD133+ HPCs affected the apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition EMT of breast cancer cells. Results: Co-culture with CD133+ HPCs, but not UCB CD133- cells, promoted the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, accompanied by reducing in vitro spontaneous apoptosis. Co-administration of these two lines with CD133+ HPCs significantly enhanced the growth of implanted breast cancer in vivo. Furthermore, co-culture with CD133+ HPCs, enhanced the invasion of breast cancer cells, N-cadherin and Vimentin expression, but reduced E-cadherin expression in breast cancer cells. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that CD133+ HPCs enhance the malignancy of breast cancer cells by attenuating spontaneous apoptosis and promoting the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition. These findings may provide new insights into the role of human CD133+ HPCs in breast cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, CD133+ HPCs may be a new therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

Background: Human CD133+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are a specific subset of cells that can regulate tumor malignancy. However, the mechanism by which CD133+ HPCs affect the malignancy of human breast cancer has not been reported. Methods: CD133+ HPCs were isolated and purified from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) .We used in vitro culture of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice to evaluate whether CD133+ HPCs affected the apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition EMT of breast cancer cells. Results: Co-culture with CD133+ HPCs, but not UCB CD133- cells, promoted the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, accompanied by reducing in vitro spontaneous apoptosis. Co-administration of these two lines with CD133+ HPCs significantly enhanced the growth of implanted breast cancer in vivo. Furthermore, co-culture with CD133+ HPCs, enhanced the invasion of breast cancer cells, N-cadherin and Vimentin expression, but reduced E-cadherin expression in breast cancer cells. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that CD133+ HPCs enhance the malignancy of breast cancer cells by attenuating spontaneous apoptosis and promoting the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition. These findings may provide new insights into the role of human CD133+ HPCs in breast cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, CD133+ HPCs may be a new therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

BackgroundHuman CD133+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are a specific subset of cells that can regulate tumor malignancy. However, the mechanism by which CD133+ HPCs affect the malignancy of human breast cancer has not been reported.MethodsCD133+ HPCs were isolated and purified from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) .We used in vitro culture of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice to evaluate whether CD133+ HPCs affected the apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition EMT of breast cancer cells.ResultsCo-culture with CD133+ HPCs, but not UCB CD133- cells, promoted the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, accompanied by reducing in vitro spontaneous apoptosis. Co-administration of these two lines with CD133+ HPCs significantly enhanced the growth of implanted breast cancer in vivo . Furthermore, co-culture with CD133+ HPCs, enhanced the invasion of breast cancer cells, N-cadherin and Vimentin expression, but reduced E-cadherin expression in breast cancer cells.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that CD133+ HPCs enhance the malignancy of breast cancer cells by attenuating spontaneous apoptosis and promoting the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition. These findings may provide new insights into the role of human CD133+ HPCs in breast cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, CD133+ HPCs may be a new therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.