[SCAN] How cholesterol affects the movement of molecules and cancer cells in and out blood vessels

Title: How cholesterol affects the movement of molecules and cancer cells in and out blood vessels

Speaker: Ana Luísa Magalhães, IMM

Abstract:

Cholesterol is an important component of cellular membranes and although mammalian cells in general are able to synthesize cholesterol, most of the times, they get it from circulating lipoproteins such as the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). We have published evidence, both from clinical and pre-clinical data, showing that high levels of systemic LDL correlate with increase breast cancer progression and metastasis. As high systemic LDL is a well-known mediator of blood vessel endothelial disruption, we decided to study how LDL affects the movement of molecules and cancer cells in and out blood vessels during breast cancer progression. I will be presenting published and unpublished data showing that treating blood vessel endothelial cells with native LDL does not compromise endothelial permeability but increases the transcytosis of high molecular weight molecules (by increasing caveolae) and also the entry of cancer cells in circulation through a vascular mimicry-like mechanism that involves the upregulation of Serpine2. I will be presenting data raised using both in vitro and in vivo (mouse) models and 2D and 3D cell culture systems to study endothelial permeability and cancer cell interaction with endothelial cells.