Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundUnderstanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of cutaneous malignant melanoma is critical for improved diagnosis and treatment. Keratinocytic nuclear receptor Retinoid X Receptor α (RXRα) has a protective role against melanomagenesis and is involved in the regulation of keratinocyte and melanocyte homeostasis subsequent acute ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.MethodsWe generated a trigenic mouse model system (RXRαep−/−| Tyr-NRASQ61K | CDK4R24C/R24C) harboring an epidermal knockout of Retinoid X Receptor α (RXRαep−/−), combined with oncogenic NRASQ61K (constitutively active RAS) and activated CDK4R24C/R24C (constitutively active CDK4). Those mice were subjected to a single neonatal dose of UVB treatment and the role of RXR α was evaluated by characterizing the molecular and cellular changes that took place in the untreated and UVB treated trigenic RXRαep−/− mice compared to the control mice with functional RXRα.ResultsHere we report that the trigenic mice develops spontaneous melanoma and exposure to a single neonatal UVB treatment reduces the tumor latency in those mice compared to control mice with functional RXRα. Melanomas from the trigenic RXRαep−/− mice are substantial in size, show increased proliferation, exhibit increased expression of malignant melanoma markers and exhibit enhanced vascularization. Altered expression of several biomarkers including increased expression of activated AKT, p21 and cyclin D1 and reduced expression of pro-apoptotic marker BAX was observed in the tumor adjacent normal (TAN) skin of acute ultraviolet B treated trigenic RXRαep−/− mice. Interestingly, we observed a significant increase in p21 and Cyclin D1 in the TAN skin of un-irradiated trigenic RXRαep−/− mice, suggesting that those changes might be consequences of loss of functional RXRα in the melanoma microenvironment. Loss of RXRα in the epidermal keratinocytes in combination with oncogenic NRASQ61K and CDK4R24C/R24C mutations in trigenic mice led to significant melanoma invasion into the draining lymph nodes as compared to controls with functional RXRα.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates the protective role of keratinocytic RxRα in (1) suppressing spontaneous and acute UVB-induced melanoma, and (2) preventing progression of the melanoma to malignancy in the presence of driver mutations like activated CDK4R24C/R24C and oncogenic NRASQ61K.
Highlights
Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of cutaneous malignant melanoma is critical for improved diagnosis and treatment
Loss of keratinocytic Rxrα expression when combined with activated Cdk4R24C/R24C or oncogenic human NRAS (Tyr-NRASQ61K) after chronic UVBirradiation results in malignant melanoma formation [18]
We have combined the Rxrαep−/− mice, in which Rxrα was deleted in epidermal keratinocytes, with oncogenic Neuroblastoma RAS Viral Oncogene Homolog (NRASQ61K) and activating Cdk4R24C/R24C to generate a trigenic mouse line by breeding together our Rxrαep−/−|Cdk4R24C/R24C and Rxrαep−/−|Tyr-NRASQ61K bigenic mouse lines
Summary
Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of cutaneous malignant melanoma is critical for improved diagnosis and treatment. Methods: We generated a trigenic mouse model system (RXRαep−/−| Tyr-NRASQ61K | CDK4R24C/R24C) harboring an epidermal knockout of Retinoid X Receptor α (RXRαep−/−), combined with oncogenic NRASQ61K (constitutively active RAS) and activated CDK4R24C/R24C (constitutively active CDK4) Those mice were subjected to a single neonatal dose of UVB treatment and the role of RXR α was evaluated by characterizing the molecular and cellular changes that took place in the untreated and UVB treated trigenic RXRαep−/− mice compared to the control mice with functional RXRα. Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer with approximately 76,000 new cases and an estimated 10,000 deaths in the US this year [1] It arises in both the chronic and non-chronic UV damaged skin, epidemiological studies indicate an increased association with acute rather than chronic sun exposure [2]. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind melanomagenesis is critical for elucidating novel pathways that can be co-opted to aid with diagnosis and treatment strategies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
