Tyrosinase-related Protein-1 mRNA Research Articles

Echinochrome A Inhibits Melanogenesis in B16F10 Cells by Downregulating CREB Signaling.

Excessive increase in melanin pigment in the skin can be caused by a variety of environmental factors, including UV radiation, and can result in spots, freckles, and skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to develop functional whitening cosmetic reagents that regulate melanogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of echinochrome A (Ech A) on melanogenesis in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line. We triggered B16F10 cells using α-MSH under Ech A treatment to observe melanin synthesis and analyze expression changes in melanogenesis-related enzymes (tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TYRP2)) at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we measured expression changes in the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), CREB, and pCREB proteins. Melanin synthesis in the cells stimulated by α-MSH was significantly reduced by Ech A. The expression of the tyrosinase, TYRP1, and TYRP2 mRNA and proteins was significantly decreased by Ech A, as was that of the MITF, CREB, and pCREB proteins. These results show that Ech A suppresses melanin synthesis by regulating melanogenesis-related enzymes through the CREB signaling pathway and suggest the potential of Ech A as a functional agent to prevent pigmentation and promote skin whitening.

Human TYRP1: Two functions for a single gene?

In the animal kingdom, skin pigmentation is highly variable between species, and it contributes to phenotypes. In humans, skin pigmentation plays a part in sun protection. Skin pigmentation depends on the ratio of the two pigments pheomelanin and eumelanin, both synthesized by a specialized cell population, the melanocytes. In this review, we explore one important factor in pigmentation: the tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) gene which is involved in eumelanin synthesis via the TYRP1 protein. Counterintuitively, high TYRP1 mRNA expression is associated with a poor clinical outcome for patients with metastatic melanomas. Recently, we were able to explain this unexpected TYRP1 function by demonstrating that TYRP1 mRNA sequesters microRNA-16, a tumor suppressor miRNA. Here, we focus on actors influencing TYRP1 mRNA abundance, particularly transcription factors, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and miRNAs, as they all dictate the indirect oncogenic activity of TYRP1.

A non-coding function of TYRP1 mRNA promotes melanoma growth.

Competition among RNAs to bind miRNA is proposed to influence biological systems. However, the role of this competition in disease onset is unclear. Here, we report that TYRP1 mRNA, in addition to encoding tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), indirectly promotes cell proliferation by sequestering miR-16 on non-canonical miRNA response elements. Consequently, the sequestered miR-16 is no longer able to repress its mRNA targets, such as RAB17, which is involved in melanoma cell proliferation and tumour growth. Restoration of miR-16 tumour-suppressor function can be achieved in vitro by silencing TYRP1 or increasing miR-16 expression. Importantly, TYRP1-dependent miR-16 sequestration can also be overcome in vivo by using small oligonucleotides that mask miR-16-binding sites on TYRP1 mRNA. Together, our findings assign a pathogenic non-coding function to TYRP1 mRNA and highlight miRNA displacement as a promising targeted therapeutic approach for melanoma.

Abstract 3048: A noncoding function of TYRP1 mRNA promotes melanoma growth

Abstract RNAs competition to bind miRNA has been proposed to influence biological systems whether these RNAs are implicated in diseases onset is unclear. Here, we report that TYRP1 mRNA, in addition to encoding tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), indirectly governs cell proliferation by sequestering miR-16 on non-canonical miRNA response elements (MREs). Consequently, sequestered miR-16 is no longer able to repress its mRNA targets such as RAB17, which we show is involved in melanoma cell proliferation and invasion. Restoration of miR-16 tumor suppressor function can be achieved in vitro by silencing TYRP1 or increasing miR-16 expression levels. Importantly, TYRP1-dependent miR-16 sequestration can also be overcome in vivo using small oligonucleotides that mask miR-16 binding sites on TYRP1 mRNA. Together, our findings assign a pathogenic noncoding function to TYRP1 mRNA and underscore miRNA displacement as a new antimelanoma targeted therapeutic approach. Citation Format: Marie-Dominique Galibert, David Gilot, Mélodie Migault, Laura Bachelot, Fabrice Journé, Aljosja Rogiers, Emmanuelle Donnou-Fournet, Ariane Mogha, Nicolas Mouchet, Marie-Laure Pinel-Marie, Bernard Mari, Tristan Montier, Sébastien Corre, Arthur Gautron, Florian Rambow, Petra El Hajj, Rania Ben Jouira, Sophie Tartare-Deckert, Jean-Christophe Marine, Brice Felden, Ghanem Ghanem. A noncoding function of TYRP1 mRNA promotes melanoma growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3048. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3048

Anti-Melanogenic Effect of Oenothera laciniata Methanol Extract in Melan-a Cells

We evaluated the antioxidant activity and anti-melanogenic effects of Oenothera laciniata methanol extract (OLME) in vitro by using melan-a cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of OLME was 66.3 and 19.0 mg/g, respectively. The electron-donating ability, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of OLME (500 µg/mL) were 94.5%, 95.6%, and 63.6%, respectively. OLME and arbutin treatment at 50 µg/ mL significantly decreased melanin content by 35.5% and 14.2%, respectively, compared to control (p < 0.05). OLME and arbutin treatment at 50 µg/mL significantly inhibited intra-cellular tyrosinase activity by 22.6% and 12.6%, respectively, compared to control (p < 0.05). OLME (50 µg/mL) significantly decreased tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M (MITF-M) mRNA expression by 57.1%, 67.3%, 99.0%, and 77.0%, respectively, compared to control (p < 0.05). Arbutin (50 µg/mL) significantly decreased tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 mRNA expression by 24.2%, 42.9%, and 48.5%, respectively, compared to control (p < 0.05). However, arbutin (50 µg/mL) did not affect MITF-M mRNA expression. Taken together, OLME showed a good antioxidant activity and anti-melanogenic effect in melan-a cells that was superior to that of arbutin, a well-known skin-whitening agent. The potential mechanism underlying the anti-melanogenic effect of OLME was inhibition of tyrosinase activity and down-regulation of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF-M mRNA expression.

Effects of bavachin and its regulation of melanin synthesis in A375 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of bavachin treatment on A375 cells and the regulation of melanin synthesis. The cultured A375 cells in vitro were treated with bavachin; and the effect of bavachin on cell activity, tyrosinase (TYR) activity and melanin synthesis were respectively tested by the MTT assay, L-dopa oxidation assay and the NaOH lysis assay. The expression levels of TYR and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) proteins were tested by western blot analysis. The expression levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1), ERK2 and JNK2 mRNA were tested by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Simultaneously, the effect of estrogen receptor inhibitor (ICI182780) and ERK pathway inhibitor (U0126) was also tested on A375 cells following bavachin. The safe dose of bavachin significantly inhibited melanin synthesis and TYR activity. Bavachin (10 µmol/l) inhibited the expression of TYR and JNK proteins, and the expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, ERK1, ERK2 and JNK2 mRNA in A375 cells. ICI182780 and U0126 could significantly reverse the bavachin treatment on the protein expression levels and the mRNA expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, ERK1, ERK2 and JNK2. In conclusion, bavachin inhibited the synthesis of melanin on A375 cells by inhibiting the protein and mRNA expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, ERK1, ERK2 and JNK2.

Biological characteristics of mouse skin melanocytes.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the optimal passage number according to the biological characteristics of mouse skin melanocytes from different passages. Skin punch biopsies harvested from the dorsal region of 2-day old mice were used to establish melanocyte cultures. The cells from passage 4, 7, 10 and 13 were collected and evaluated for their melanogenic activity. Histochemical staining for tyrosinase (TYR) activity and immunostaining for the melanocyte specific markers including S-100 antigen, TYR, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1), tyrosinase related protein 2 (TYRP2) and micropthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) confirmed purity and melanogenic capacity of melanocytes from different passages, with better melanogenic activity of passage 10 and 13 cells being observed. Treatment of passage 13 melanocytes with α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) showed increased expression of MITF, TYR and TYRP2 mRNA. However, considering the TYR mRNA dramatically high expression which is the characteristics of melanoma cells, melanocytes from passage 10 was the optimal passage number for the further research. Our results demonstrate culture of pure populations of mouse melanocytes to at least 10 passages and illustrate the potential utility of passage 10 cells for studies of intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of genes controlling pigmentation and coat color in mouse.

Particle-mediated Intravenous Delivery of Antigen mRNA Results in Strong Antigen-specific T-cell Responses Despite the Induction of Type I Interferon.

Cancer vaccines based on mRNA are extensively studied. The fragile nature of mRNA has instigated research into carriers that can protect it from ribonucleases and as such enable its systemic use. However, carrier-mediated delivery of mRNA has been linked to production of type I interferon (IFN) that was reported to compromise the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines. In this study, we evaluated a cationic lipid for encapsulation of mRNA. The nanometer-sized, negatively charged lipid mRNA particles (LMPs) efficiently transfected dendritic cells and macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, i.v. delivery of LMPs resulted in rapid expression of the mRNA-encoded protein in spleen and liver, predominantly in CD11c+ cells and to a minor extent in CD11b+ cells. Intravenous immunization of mice with LMPs containing ovalbumin, human papilloma virus E7, and tyrosinase-related protein-2 mRNA, either combined or separately, elicited strong antigen-specific T-cell responses. We further showed the production of type I IFNs upon i.v. LMP delivery. Although this decreased the expression of the mRNA-encoded protein, it supported the induction of antigen-specific T-cell responses. These data question the current notion that type I IFNs hamper particle-mediated mRNA vaccines.

연잎 추출물의 항산화 활성 및 멜라노마 세포(B16F10)에서 MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase의 발현 저해 효과

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Nelumbo nucifera G. leaf (NNL) extract as a cosmetic additive. The electron-donating ability of the NNL extract at a concentration of 1,000 μg/ml was 67.83%. In xanthine oxidase, the inhibition effect of the NNL extract was 92.7% at the same concentration. For whitening effects, tyrosinase inhibition effect of NNL extract was 42.7% at a 1,000 μg/ml concentration. The cell toxicity of the NNL extract was examined in melanoma cells (B16F10) using a 3-[4, 5–dimethyl–thiazol–2–yl]-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. The cell toxicity assay revealed that the NNL extract had a toxicity of 81.61% at a concentration of 1,000 μg/ml The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase protein expression inhibitory effect by Western blot of NNL extract were measured by a Western blot at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml. At a 100 μg/ml concentration of the NNL extract, the expression of the MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase protein was decreased by 69.59%, 27.74%, 67.33%, and 67.78% respectively. The MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2 and tyrosinase mRNA expression inhibitory effect were measured by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml. GAPDH was used as a positive control. At a concentration of 100 μg/ml of the NNL extract, the expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase mRNA was decreased by 67.51%, 71.36%, 85.74%, and 83.64%, respectively. These findings suggest that the NNL extract has antioxidant and whitening effects and that it has great potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

SNPs at miR-155 binding sites of TYRP1 explain discrepancy between mRNA and protein and refine TYRP1 prognostic value in melanoma.

Background:We previously demonstrated an inverse correlation between tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) mRNA expression in melanoma metastases and patient survival. However, TYRP1 protein was not detected in half of tissues expressing mRNA and did not correlate with survival. Based on a study reporting that 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of TYRP1 mRNA contains two miR-155-5p (named miR-155) binding sites exhibiting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that promote (matched miRNA–mRNA interaction) mRNA decay or not (mismatched), we aimed to investigate the role of miR-155 in the regulation of TYRP1 mRNA expression and protein translation accounting for these SNPs.Methods:The effect of miR-155 on TYRP1 mRNA/protein expression was evaluated in two melanoma cell lines harbouring matched or mismatched miR-155–TYRP1 mRNA interaction after transfection with pre-miR-155. In parallel, 192 skin and lymph node melanoma metastases were examined for TYRP1 mRNA/protein, miR-155 and SNPs and correlated with patient survival. TYRP1 mRNA, SNPs at its 3′UTR and miR-155 were analysed by RT–qPCR, whereas TYRP1 protein was evaluated by western blot in cell lines and by immunohistochemistry in metastatic tissues.Results:The miR-155 induced a dose-dependent TYRP1 mRNA decay and hampered its translation into protein in the line with the ‘match' genotype. In melanoma metastases, TYRP1 mRNA inversely correlated with miR-155 expression but not with TYRP1 protein in the ‘match' group, whereas it positively correlated with protein but not with miR-155 in the ‘mismatch' group. Consequently, in the latter group, TYRP1 protein inversely correlated with survival.Conclusion:Polymorphisms in 3′UTR of TYRP1 mRNA can affect TYRP1 mRNA regulation by miR-155 and its subsequent translation into protein. These SNPs can render TYRP1 mRNA and protein expression nonsusceptible to miR-155 activity and disclose a prognostic value for TYRP1 protein in a subgroup of melanoma patients. These data support the interest in the prognostic value of melanogenic markers and propose TYRP1 to refine prognosis in patients with advanced disease.

TYRP1 mRNA expression in melanoma metastases correlates with clinical outcome

Background:Clinical outcome of patients with high-risk melanoma cannot be reliably predicted on the basis of classical histopathological examination. Our study aimed to determine in melanoma metastases a gene expression profile associated with patient survival, and to identify and validate marker(s) of poor clinical outcome.Methods:Skin and lymph node metastases from melanoma patients (training population) were used to identify candidate prognostic marker(s) based on DNA microarray analysis. Additional skin metastases (validation population) were used to assess the prognostic value of the first ranked gene by real-time PCR.Results:We performed microarray analysis in the training population and generated a list of 278 probe sets associated with a shorter survival. We used the first ranked gene, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), further measured its expression in the validation population by real-time PCR and found it to be significantly correlated with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS) and Breslow thickness. We also found that it was fairly well conserved in the course of the disease regardless of the delay to metastasis occurrence. Finally, although Tyrp1 protein (immunohistochemistry (IHC)) was only detected in about half of the samples, we showed that its expression also correlated with Breslow thickness.Conclusion:Our data indicate that TYRP1 mRNA expression level, at least in skin metastases, is a prognostic marker for melanoma, and is particularly useful when prognostic pathology parameters at the primary lesion are lacking. Its conserved expression further supports its use as a target for therapy.

Comparison of the inhibitory effects of vitamin E analogues on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells

The effect of eight vitamin E analogues (d-alpha-, dl-alpha-, d-beta-, d-gamma-, and d-delta-tocopherols, d-alpha- and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetates) and 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman (PMC) on melanogenesis were compared in mouse B16 melanoma cells. D-beta-tocopherol at 250 mug ml(-1) inhibited not only 28% of melanin synthesis in B16 cells, but also 34% of the tyrosinase activity, a very important cascade enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin in melanoma cells. D-gamma-tocopherol also strongly inhibited up to 39% of melanin synthesis and 45% of the tyrosinase enzyme activity at the same concentration. The inhibitory activity of both d-beta- and d-gamma-tocopherols was observed without cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 250 mug ml(-1). Weak activity was also observed with d-delta-tocopherol at 8 mug ml(-1) and with PMC at 16 mug ml(-1), with 19% and 25% inhibition of melanin synthesis, respectively. However, PMC did not directly inhibit tyrosinase, as was observed with d-beta-, d-gamma-, and d-delta-tocopherols. Analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the mechanism of melanogenesis inhibition by d-beta- and d-gamma-tocopherols in cells might be attributed to reduced expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase related protein-2 mRNA in addition to direct inhibition of the tyrosinase. These findings suggest that both d-beta-tocopherol and d-gamma-tocopherol might be useful as effective ingredients in whitening cosmetics with lower skin toxicity to prevent or improve skin pigmentation such as skin spots and freckles caused by UV exposure.

A method for quantifying melanosome transfer efficacy from melanocytes to keratinocytes in vitro

Several different in vivo and in vitro bioassays are used to evaluate melanosome transfer efficacy from melanocytes to keratinocytes. However, these methods are complicated and time consuming. Here, we report on a simple, rapid, direct, and reliable in vitro method for observing the process of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. First, we selected and tested a melanoma cell line RPMI-7951 that can normally synthesize melanin and transfer from mature melanosomes to keratinocytes in vitro. We cocultured these cells with a human ovarian teratoma transformed epidermal carcinoma cell line, which is also capable of accepting melanosomes transferred from melanocytes, as in normal keratinocytes. The cells were cocultured for 24-72 h and double labeled with FITC-conjugated antibody against the melanosome-associated protein TRP-1, and with Cy5-conjugated antibody against the keratinocyte-specific marker keratin 14. The cells were examined by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. Melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes increased in a time-dependent manner. To verify the accessibility of this method, the melanosome transfer inhibitor, a serine protease inhibitor, 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride, and a melanosome transfer stimulator, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, were added. The serine protease inhibitor decreased melanosome transfer, and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone increased melanosome transfer, in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, this is a simple, rapid, and effective model system to quantify the melanosome transfer efficacy from melanocytes to keratinocytes in vitro.

RT in situ PCR detection of MART-1 and TRP-2 mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of melanoma and nevi

Melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (MART-1) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) are two useful markers for immunohistochemical detection of melanocytic tumors. However, these markers may be passively acquired (phagocytosed) rather than actively synthesized. Reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction (RT in situ PCR) can amplify even small amounts of specific mRNA in cells and therefore confirm the cellular source of a marker. We developed a one-step RT in situ PCR procedure in which Thermus thermophilus DNA polymerase synthesizes and amplifies cDNA from mRNA in a single reaction mixture. To examine its practicability and feasibility with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, we compared the results of one-step RT in situ PCR with those of immunohistochemistry (IHC). MART-1 mRNA was identified in the cytoplasm of lesional cells from 23/26 primary melanomas (92%), 9/9 metastatic melanomas (100%) and 5/6 nevi (83%). MART-1 epitope was detected by IHC in 23/24 primary melanomas (96%), 9/9 metastatic melanomas (100%) and 5/6 nevi (83%). TRP-2 mRNA was identified in the cytoplasm of lesional cells from 17/26 primary melanomas (65%), 6/9 metastatic melanomas (67%) and 4/6 nevi (67%). TRP-2 epitope was detected by IHC in 20/24 primary melanomas (83%), 9/9 metastatic melanomas (100%) and 4/6 nevi (67%). Both techniques detected MART-1 and TRP-2 in FFPE melanoma cell lines. Neither marker was detected in squamous cell carcinomas or basal cell carcinomas by RT in situ PCR or IHC. We conclude that the RT in situ PCR technique can be successfully applied to FFPE tissue to determine the cellular sources of gene expression observed by conventional PCR approaches.

Differential regulation of melanosomal proteins after hinokitiol treatment

Melanogenesis is regulated by a series of enzymes under the control of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). The aim of this study was to examine melanosome-associated protein levels in Mel-Ab cells after hinokitiol treatment. We measured melanin contents and analyzed melanosome-associated protein levels using Western blot and RT-PCR analysis. Hinokitiol markedly inhibited melanin synthesis and also reduced the protein levels of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TYRP-2) and MITF in Mel-Ab cells. In addition, hinokitiol significantly increased the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Furthermore, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that TYR and MITF mRNA levels were significantly decreased but that levels of TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 mRNA were unaffected by hinokitiol treatment. These results suggest that hinokitiol-induced ERK phosphorylation reduces MITF and TYR transcription, and mediates the action of hinokitiol on melanogenesis. Interestingly, the mRNAs of TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 were unaffected, although the protein levels of TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 were down-regulated. Thus, the effects of hinokitiol on the transcription of TYR may differ from its effects on TYRP-1 and TYRP-2. Therefore, we suggest that TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 may be regulated by post-translational degradation after hinokitiol treatment.

Detection of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 sequences from peripheral blood of melanoma patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

Background: malignant melanoma has one of the highest rates of metastasis. Unlike other solid cancers, no sensitive tumor markers or laboratory tests that can provide information of the risk of metastasis and predict the prognosis have yet been established. Objective: the study was done to establish a RT-PCR sensitive and specific enough to detect melanocyte-specific transcripts from peripheral blood cells. Methods: peripheral white blood cells were collected from 30 healthy donors and 43 melanoma patients. Melanocyte-specific tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) were selected as targets of RT-PCR. The sensitivity of detection using SK-mel-23 melanoma cells and rates of false-positiveness using non-melanoma blood were compared between single-step PCR and nested PCR. Analysis of melanoma blood samples was carried out by the single-step PCR. Results: the nested RT-PCR amplified the TYR and TYRP1 sequences from 14 and 2 of the 30 healthy bloods, respectively. However, the single-step RT-PCR did not amplify TYR or TYRP1 sequences from any of the healthy controls. Our single-step RT-PCR detected 1.7 and 0.8 SK-mel-23 melanoma cells per ml blood for TYR and TYRP1, respectively. Overall, TYR mRNA was detected in 15 of the 43 melanoma patients (34.9%), and TYRP1 mRNA in 16 of the 43 (37.2%). The specificities of detection of TYR and TYRP1 were 83.3 and 88.9%, respectively. Conclusion: our single-step RT-PCR for TYR and TYRP1 mRNAs is more specific than the previous nested RT-PCR for TYR and applicable to detect circulating melanoma cells.

Expression of CC chemokine receptor-7 and regional lymph node metastasis of B16 murine melanoma.

CC chemokine receptor-7 (CCR7), which plays a critical role in the migration of activated dendritic cells to regional lymph nodes via afferent lymphatic vessels, is also expressed by human breast and melanoma cell lines. Because neoplastic cells also enter lymphatic vessels before metastasis to the lymph nodes, we investigated whether CCR7 expression enhances metastasis of B16 murine melanoma cells to regional lymph nodes. B16 cells were transduced with a retroviral vector containing CCR7 complementary DNA (CCR7-B16 cells) or with vector alone (pLNCX2-B16 control cells). The functional assay for CCR7 protein was Ca(2+) flux stimulated by the chemokine CCL21, a CCR7-specific ligand produced by lymphatic endothelial cells. B16 tumor cells were injected into the footpad of mice. Tumor cell metastasis to draining lymph nodes was assessed by measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) for tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP), a melanocyte-specific enzyme, with real-time, quantitative reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction. All statistical tests were two-sided. One week after injection into the footpad, 701-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64- to 1336-fold) more TRP mRNA was detected in draining lymph nodes from CCR7-B16 cell-injected mice than in those from control cell-injected mice. Three weeks after footpad injection, 58% (11 of 19) of the draining lymph nodes from CCR7-B16 cell-injected mice and 5% (one of 19) of those from control mice showed gross metastases (P<.001). CCR7-B16 cells isolated from lymph node metastases retained functional CCR7 expression. Lymph node metastasis of CCR7-B16 cells was blocked by neutralizing anti-CCL21 antibodies (metastasis in none of five lymph nodes) but not by control immunoglobulin G (three of five). Enhanced metastasis of CCR7-B16 cells was specific for a lymphatic route because both CCR7-B16 and control cells co-injected intravenously metastasized to the lung at the same frequency. Expression of a single chemokine receptor gene, CCR7, increased B16 cell metastasis to draining lymph nodes, suggesting that cancer cells may co-opt normal mechanisms of lymph node homing during metastasis.

Regulation of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TYRP2) in human melanocytes: relationship to growth and morphology.

Treatment of human melanoma cells with the differentiation-inducing agent hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) results in reciprocal changes in expression of melanocyte-specific genes tyrosinase-related proteins-1 and -2 (TYRP1 and TYRP2). In this study, we investigated the effects of HMBA on cultured neonatal human cutaneous melanocytes. Flow cytometric analysis showed that HMBA inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-dependent growth of melanocytes by reducing the population of cells entering the DNA synthesis phase of cell cycle. Melanocyte growth inhibition was accompanied by an increase in the number of cells exhibiting polydendritic morphology. This morphologic change was less pronounced when HMBA was added to melanocytes in the absence of TPA. Northern blot analyses of total cellular RNA showed that expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), TYRP1, Silver (SILV/Pmel17) gene was down-regulated by HMBA, while TYRP2 mRNA was up-regulated (> 10-fold). When the inducer was added to cells in the absence of TPA, there was > 50-fold increase in TYRP2 mRNA with a moderate increase in MITF, tyrosinase and SILV gene mRNAs and complete repression of TYRP1 gene. Studies using inhibitors for protein kinases involved in cell signaling pathways suggested that stress-activated kinase p38 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MEK are involved in TPA-independent regulation of TYRP2 expression in melanocytes. These data show that treatment of proliferating melanocytes with the differentiation inducer HMBA results in a distinct change in morphology and up-regulation of TYRP2, while quiescent melanocytes respond by a dramatic increase in expression of TYRP2 without change in morphology. These results suggest an inverse relationship of TYRP2 gene regulatory mechanisms to melanocyte growth regulatory pathways.

Expression of Tyrosinase-related Protein 2/DOPAchrome Tautomerase in the Retinoblastoma

Tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2), also known as DOPAchrome tautomerase, is an enzyme in melanin biosynthesis and may play an important role in detoxification of a metabolite derived from DOPA. TRP-2 is expressed in melanocytes of neural crest origin and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), derived from the optic cup. TRP-2 has been established as an early differentiation marker for melanoblasts and RPE. It is therefore of significance to study the regulation of TRP-2/DOPAchrome tautomerase expression. Here we show that TRP-2 mRNA is expressed in Y79 human retinoblastoma cell line, derived from a primitive multipotential retinal cell. Retinoblastoma is the common primary intraocular tumor of childhood. Basal expression levels in Y79 retinoblastoma cells of TRP-2 mRNA and protein are comparable to those in melanoma cells, whereas mRNA for tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis, is undetectable in retinoblastoma cells. Transient transfection assays showed that the TRP-2 gene promoter efficiently directs the reporter gene expression in retinoblastoma cells as it does in melanoma cells. Moreover, the expression of TRP-2 mRNA was induced by retinoic acid in retinoblastoma cells but not noticeably affected by forskolin, a cAMP-elevating reagent, whereas in melanoma cells its expression was induced by forskolin but not by retinoic acid. These results suggest a difference in the regulation of TRP-2 expression between retinoblastoma and melanoma cells. Moreover, TRP-2 mRNA is expressed in the excised retinoblastoma specimens, as assessed by RT-PCR. The present study shows unexpected features of TRP-2 and may enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of retinoblastoma.

Quantitative analysis of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 mRNA from melanoma cells in blood by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Several studies have evaluated the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of tyrosinase mRNA to detect melanoma cells in blood. However, contradictory results have been obtained from different groups. We therefore have developed and validated a quantitative PCR method for tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) mRNA. An important methodological finding was that high concentrations of reverse transcriptase or RNA sample inhibited the following PCR. This could be abolished by dilution of the cDNA sample before the PCR. Standard curves with a linear range over at least five logs were obtained with dilutions of melanoma cell cDNA. Controls (RNA and cDNA) consisting of melanoma cells (1000/ml) added to blood were analysed repeatedly over 3 months, resulting in means between 880 and 1074 AU/ml. The RNA controls were stable, whereas the cDNA controls, as well as the calibrators, showed a tendency to change over time. The variation in the RNA controls was 25% for tyrosinase and 22% for TRP-2. Seven stage III-IV melanoma patients were tested for tyrosinase and TRP-2 transcripts in blood drawn from a peripheral vein and from a Port-a-cath. Tyrosinase mRNA was found in three patients (0.8-12.4 AU/ml). For TRP-2, the same amount was found in the patients as in healthy donors. No differences were seen between blood from a peripheral vein and from the Port-a-cath. We here present fast and sensitive methods for the quantification of tyrosinase and TRP-2 mRNA in blood.