Fig. 1

HER2/neu-positive SKBR3 and HER2-normal MCF7 cells differ in their response to palmitate. a, b HER2/neu-positive SKBR3 and HER2-normal MCF7 breast cancer cells were treated with 250 μM palmitate or vehicle for 24 h and 48 h. Cells were fixed and neutral lipids were stained with BODIPY 493/503. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342. BODIPY fluorescence and nuclei were imaged and quantified using the INCell Analyzer 2200 and INCell Investigator software. C16 = palmitate. c Exogenous palmitate alters anchorage-independent growth. Cells were plated in ultra-low attachment plates in the presence of 250 μM palmitate or vehicle control and incubated for 11 days. Viable cells were quantified using the Alamar Blue cell health indicator. Statistical analysis was carried out in Graphpad Prism. Data are presented as mean ± SD. * = p · 0.05, ** = p · 0.01, *** = p · 0.001, Student’s t-test, n = 3, n = 4 in C