Abstract
BackgroundMalignant melanoma is an extremely aggressive and metastatic cancer, and highly resistant to conventional therapies. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling promotes melanoma development and progression, which has been validated as an effective target in melanoma treatment. Natural naphthoquinone shikonin is reported to exert anti-melanoma effects. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the anti-melanoma activities of shikonin and explore the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects.MethodsZebrafish tumor model was established to evaluate the anti-human melanoma effects of shikonin in vivo. MTT assay and colony formation assay were employed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of shikonin on human melanoma A375 and A2058 cells. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction. Wound healing assay and Transwell chamber assay were conducted to examine the cell migratory and invasive abilities. Immunofluorescence assay was used to observe F-actin, Tubulin, and STAT3 localization. Western blotting was used to determine the expression levels of proteins associated with apoptosis and key proteins in the STAT3 signaling pathway. Immunoblotting was performed in DSS cross-linked cells to determine the homo-dimerization of STAT3. Gelatin zymography was employed to evaluate the enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Transient transfection was used to overexpress STAT3 in cell models.ResultsShikonin suppressed melanoma growth in cultured cells and in zebrafish xenograft models. Shikonin induced melanoma cells apoptosis, inhibited cell migration and invasion. Mechanistic study indicated that shikonin inhibited the phosphorylation and homo-dimerization of STAT3, thus reduced its nuclear localization. Further study showed that shikonin decreased the levels of STAT3-targeted genes Mcl-1, Bcl-2, MMP-2, vimentin, and Twist, which are involved in melanoma survival, migration, and invasion. More importantly, overexpression of constitutively active STAT3 partially abolished the anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive effects of shikonin.ConclusionThe anti-melanoma activity of shikonin is at least partially attributed to the inhibition on STAT3 signaling. These findings provide new insights into the anti-melanoma molecular mechanisms of shikonin, suggesting its potential in melanoma treatment.
Highlights
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer
To evaluate the anti-melanoma activity of shikonin, a zebrafish melanoma model was established by microinjection of CM-DiI-stained melanoma cells, and these embryos were treated with indicated concentrations of shikonin or sorafenib
These results indicate that shikonin inhibits the tumor formation in vivo
Summary
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. it represents less than 5% of the skin cancer cases, it accounts for 60% to 80% of all skin cancer-related deaths (Bandarchi et al, 2013; Orgaz and Sanz-Moreno, 2013). The 5-year survival rate associated with the metastasis form of melanoma varies from 5% to 19% (Cummins et al, 2006; Bandarchi et al, 2013; Maverakis et al, 2015). Available therapeutic agents, such as dacarbazine (alkylating agents), vemurafenib/dabrafenib/ encorafenib (BRAF V600E inhibitors), interferon alfa-2b/ interleukin-2, ipilimumab (antibodies against CTLA-4), pembrolizumab/nivolumab (antibodies target PD-L1/PD-1), alimogene laherparepvec (oncolytic vaccines), have significantly improved patient survival (Zhu et al, 2016; Millet et al, 2017). Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the anti-melanoma activities of shikonin and explore the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects
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