The lysosomal-associated membrane protein LAMP-1 is a novel differentiation marker for HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells.

HC11 cells are a model for mammary epithelial cell differentiation. Following treatment with the lactogenic hormones glucocorticoids, insulin and prolactin the HC11 cells synthesize milk proteins. Stereological analysis at the ultrastructural level suggested that lysosomal biogenesis was activated following lactogenic hormone treatment of HC11 cells. Differentiation was also accompanied by an increase in the cellular content of tri- and tetra-antennary oligosaccharides, which were reactive with isolectin L4 from Phaseolus vulgaris (L-PHA). The lysosomal-associated membrane glycoproteins LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 are the major carriers of this glycosylation pattern. An analysis of LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 expression levels showed that there was a dramatic increase in LAMP-1 following lactogenic hormone treatment of HC11 cells. The control of LAMP-1 expression is mainly post-transcriptional since the level of LAMP-1 RNA is not affected by lactogenic hormones. Stereological analysis also showed an increase in intermediate filament control of differentiated cells. Analysis of the cytokeratins expressed in differentiated cells suggests that HC11 cells have characteristics of a mammary-specific stem cell. Increase in lysosomal vesicles and their contents might play a role in intra- and extra-cellular remodeling, which is characteristic of cell differentiation.