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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Melanogenesis is a cascade of events significantly controlled by regulatory genes which are associated with the melanosomal membrane. This report introduces our current research efforts dealing with (a) the gene and protein expressions of tyrosinase and Lamp (lysosome-associated membrane protein) families by human melanoma cells after repeated exposures to UV light, (b) the coordinated alterations in the expression of the Lamp family gene and its encoding product after transfection of two genes of the tyrosinase family in human melanoma cells and (c) cloning and sequencing of a Ca(2+)-binding phosphoprotein, calnexin, which could be a candidate as a chaperone for sorting and maturation of tyrosinase and Lamp family glycoproteins in melanogenesis cascade. Our UV exposure study, as well as gene transfection and antisense hybridization experiments, has clearly indicated a marked and coordinated interaction of the Lamp-1 gene with the tyrosinase and TRP-1 genes in this process. We propose that melanogenesis is controlled at least by two major gene family products, i.e., (a) the tyrosinase family of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2, and the Lamp family of Lamp-1, Lamp-2 and Lamp-3. These two gene families probably derived from primordial melanogenesis-associated genes which are common or closely related to each other.
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PMID:Molecular control of melanogenesis in malignant melanoma: functional assessment of tyrosinase and lamp gene families by UV exposure and gene co-transfection, and cloning of a cDNA encoding calnexin, a possible melanogenesis "chaperone". 753 26

Basic investigation into the nature of melanin monomer and polymer synthesis in pigment cells has revealed many of the new underlying factors involved in its regulation and control by three melanogenesis-related genes, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2, and other non-tyrosinase glycoproteins. Pigment cells can undergo clinically and biologically recognizable progressive multi-step carcinogenesis. Generally parallel to this progressive cancerization is accentuated melanogenesis. Using this accentuated melanogenesis to develop a specific diagnosis and cure for melanoma (Mm) has long been a challenge. However, until recently, no success was achieved. As an example, attempting to utilize the fact that dopa accumulates as a melanin substrate within Mm cells, hybrid compounds of dopa and cytotoxic drugs were developed. However, these compounds were found to have severe systemic side effects and were therefore unusable. Another newer Mm treatment involves high energy radiation such as fast neutrons. But this is quite non-selective, killing both the target cancer and the normal surrounding tissue. Since 1972, I have developed the idea of coupling the high energy releasing system of thermal neutron irradiation with the non-toxic 10B-dopa analogue, 10B1-L-p-boronophenylalanine (10B1-L-BPA). Thermal neutrons are essentially harmless, but, after specific absorption by 10B, release high LET alpha-particles and 7Li-atoms with an energy of 2.33 MeV up to a distance of 14 mu, the diameter of Mm cells, thus selectively killing them without damaging surrounding normal tissue. After the synthesis of 10B1-L-BPA, exhaustive in vitro and in vivo radiological studies on its enhanced killing effect were done to develop optimal Mm Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Melanogenesis investigation leading to selective melanoma neutron capture therapy and diagnosis. 785 54

Human melanoma cell lines have been used to examine the regulation of the tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein genes TRP-1 and TRP-2 in response to differentiating chemicals and UV irradiation. TRP-1 mRNA levels can be repressed by treatment with the differentiating chemicals DMSO and HMBA. There is little effect of UV irradiation on pigment synthesis by human melanoma cell lines or tyrosinase activity, with variable effects on the levels of the TYR, TRP-1, and TRP-2 gene transcripts. The human TRP-1 gene promoter has been isolated and its activity tested by transient cell transfection to begin an examination of signal transduction mechanisms operating in response to pigmenting and differentiating agents. To identify transcription factors that may be involved in melanocytic gene expression, we studied the N-Oct-3 and N-Oct-5 octamer-binding activities normally expressed in the neuroectodermal cell lineage and which are expressed at high levels in melanoma cells. POU-domain-containing cDNA have been isolated from the A2058 human melanoma cell line that are homologous to the brn-2 gene that encodes N-Oct-3 and N-Oct-5.
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PMID:Expression studies of pigmentation and POU-domain genes in human melanoma cells. 785 69

Tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2, (TRP-2, dopachrome tautomerase) were shown by immunoblotting and enzyme assays to copurify from extracts of Cloudman S91 melanoma cells. Antibodies to TRP-1 and TRP-2 immunoprecipitated tyrosinase activity, suggesting a stable interaction (complex) among these proteins. The tyrosine hydroxylase activity of tyrosinase was reduced in the complexed form; treatment with Triton X-100 dissociated the complex and activated the tyrosinase present within it. To further study this complex, we employed sucrose gradient density centrifugation of extracts from cultured murine melanocytes. Tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 all existed in high molecular weight "multimers" of approximately 200 to > 700 kilodaltons. Extraction of cells with buffers containing the detergent CHAPS preserved the high molecular weight multimers; Triton X-100 caused their dissociation into monomers. Low pH, low ionic strength, and millimolar concentrations of calcium ions favored the maintenance of multimers. The results of this study demonstrate that the participation of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 in a multimeric complex could have important physiologic consequences, and raise the possibility that some of the well-known interactions between coat color genes may be explained by intermolecular interactions between the gene products.
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PMID:High-molecular-weight forms of tyrosinase and the tyrosinase-related proteins: evidence for a melanogenic complex. 804 Jun 9

Retinoic acid (RA) is a hormone-like agent involved in the control of cell differentiation. The most characteristic feature of melanocyte differentiation, melanogenesis, is stimulated by UV radiations. Excessive chronic sun exposure results in irregular skin hypermelanosis that can be partially corrected by topical RA. The basic mechanisms underlying this effect of RA are unknown. To determine whether RA can directly modulate excessive melanin synthesis, we analyzed the in vitro effect of cis- and trans-RA on UVB-induced melanogenesis in S91 mouse melanoma cells and in normal human melanocytes (NHM). In both cells types, the two RA isoforms significantly decreased the UVB-stimulated melanogenesis in term of tyrosinase activity and melanin neosynthesis. To correlate changes in melanogenesis with the expression of melanogenic enzymes, we determined the neosynthesis rate of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1/gp 75) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2/DOPAchrome tautomerase). Here we show that UVB-induced melanogenesis in NHM is related to an increased synthesis of tyrosinase and TRP-1 and to a dramatic decrease of TRP-2 expression. RA inhibition of UVB-induced melanogenesis acts at the post-transcriptional level leading to a decreased tyrosinase and TRP-1 synthesis. We also show that in NHM, inhibition of TRP-2 following UVB-treatment is significantly reversed by RA. This demonstrates a negative correlation between melanogenesis and TRP-2 expression.
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PMID:Retinoic acid as modulator of UVB-induced melanocyte differentiation. Involvement of the melanogenic enzymes expression. 805 33

We have isolated cDNAs for the human TRP-2 gene which represents a third member of the tyrosinase-related gene family and encodes the dopachrome tautomerase activity that functions in the synthesis of melanin pigment. The human TRP-2 protein has 83% identity/90% similarity to the mouse sequence and has all the structural characteristics of the tyrosinase protein family, including a signal peptide, 15 conserved cysteine residues, two copper-binding domains and a C-terminal membrane-spanning region. Northern blot analysis reveals that TRP-2 is expressed at high levels in human melanoma cells.
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PMID:Sequence of the human dopachrome tautomerase-encoding TRP-2 cDNA. 820 91

Monoclonal antibodies against melanosomal components (human melanosome specific antigens; HMSAs) have been developed in our laboratory. HMSA-1-4 recognizes structural matrix proteins of melanosomes. HMSA-5 is identical to TRP-1, equivalent to the b (brown) locus of murine melanocytes and expressed in early stages of melanosomal maturation. HMSA-6 is a protein associated with melanosomes but its role is still unclarified, and HMSA-7 is identical to the lysosomal protein CD63. We have also recently identified p90 calnexin-like, Ca(2+)-binding protein p97 melanotransferrin, and p64 beta-D-galactosidase-like protein associated with melanosomes through immunological screening of our melanocytes (melanoma cells) cDNA library. Approximately 150 genes and 60 loci are known to influence eye, skin and hair colour in mammals. Tyrosinase is a rate-limiting enzyme responsible for melanin synthesis. In addition, tyrosine-related proteins (TRPs) and their genes have been identified and cloned. Tyrosinase and TRPS (e.g., TRP-1; b-locus protein identical to HMSA-5 and TRP-2; dopachrome tautomerase) are synthesized according to underlying genetic programmes, and are up- and/or down-regulated to create various forms of abnormal melanin pigmentation. We herein propose the importance of investigating the role of non-tyrosinase related proteins such as those which we have recently identified.
Melanoma Res 1993 Oct
PMID:Characterization of melanosome-associated proteins by establishment of monoclonal antibodies and immunoscreening of a melanoma cDNA library through an anti-melanosome antibody. 829 89

Melanomas exhibiting mutated ras genes are frequently invasive and amelanotic. Transfecting melanocytes with ras oncogenes causes transformation and a loss of visible pigmentation. We analyzed murine melanocytes rendered amelanotic by transfection with the v-rasHa oncogene. Consistent with previous reports, tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) were not expressed by transformed cells. In addition, lack of expression of TRP-2 and the product of the silver locus was documented. Levels of melanosomal matrix antigens, the pink-eyed dilution locus protein and lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 were markedly reduced. Residual matrix antigens were localized by immunofluorescence to large vacuoles distributed peri-nuclearly in transfected cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated the absence of typical melanosomes and the presence of large vacuolar structures, also in a peri-nuclear distribution. Although levels of lysosomal hydrolases, such as beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D, were diminished, marked elevations were observed in the expression of cathepsins B and L, 2 thiol proteases implicated in the acquisition of invasiveness. Our data demonstrate that transfection of melanocytes with v-rasHa is sufficient to disrupt the biogenesis of melanosomes and to up-regulate thiol protease synthesis, providing insights into the amelanotic and invasive nature of melanomas exhibiting mutations in ras genes.
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PMID:Melanosomal and lysosomal alterations in murine melanocytes following transfection with the v-rasHa oncogene. 863 74

Whole cell hybrids and microcell hybrids between mouse fibroblasts and pigmented Syrian hamster melanoma cells were analyzed for coordinate regulation of melanocyte-specific gene products. Extinction of pigmentation was observed in whole-cell hybrids and in a microcell hybrid containing a single mouse chromosome (mouse chromosome 1). Analysis of melanocyte-specific transcripts using reverse transcription, combined with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), demonstrated that tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia transcripts were all absent in unpigmented whole-cell hybrids and in the monochromosomal unpigmented microcell hybrid. A pigmented subclone of this microcell hybrid, however, re-expressed the tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia genes. These data suggest that all of these genes are coordinately extinguished by a single fibroblast locus. Since the only fibroblast chromosome detected in the unpigmented microcell hybrid was mouse chromosome 1, these results also suggest that the extinguisher locus affecting the expression of the tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia genes in hybrid cells is located on that mouse chromosome (or on a fragment of another chromosome present in the unpigmented monochromosomal microcell hybrid but undetected in our analyses). In contrast to the results with the melanocyte-specific genes mentioned above, transcripts for the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) were present in the monochromosomal unpigmented microcell hybrid (although absent in the whole-cell hybrids). This suggests that regulation of MC1R gene expression is distinct from regulation of the other melanocyte-specific genes.
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PMID:Coordinate extinction of melanocyte-specific gene expression in hybrid cells. 864 93

Incidence and mortality of human malignant melanoma has risen rapidly over recent decades. Although the notorious resistance to treatment is characteristic for metastatic malignant melanoma, only a few experimental models have been established to study the metastatic cascade or to test new alternative treatment modalities. Thus, new human models are wanted. Here, we describe the metastatic behaviour of seven human melanoma cell lines derived from two primary cutaneous melanomas (WM 98-1, WM 1341) and five metastases established from liver (UKRV-Mel-4), skin (M7, M13), pleural effusion (UKRV-Mel-2) and lymph node (MV3). All cell lines were analysed for their capacity to grow in nude mice after s.c. and i.v. administration. M13 cells developed liver metastases spontaneously after s.c. injection, and subsequent passages of M13 and M7 melanoma cells caused liver metastases after i.v. injection, whereas MV3 and WM98-1 gave rise to lung metastases, using the same inoculation route. In contrast, WM 1341, UKRV-Mel-2 and UKRV-Mel-4 grew only very slowly in nude mice after s.c. injection and did not cause any metastases after i.v. or s.c. administration. The pattern of metastases or growth kinetics did not correlate with the interleukin 8 or tumour necrosis factor secretion of cell lines. Adhesion molecules and growth factor receptor expression on the cell lines differed widely, as determined by flow cytometry, with the low metastatic cell lines (UKRV-Mel-2, UKRV-Mel-4 and WM 1341) demonstrating a marked reduction in VLA-1 and VLA-5 expression compared with the metastatic lines (M7, M13, MV3 and WM 98-1). Expression of pigment-related proteins such as tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, Melan-A/MART-1, gp100, MAGE1 or MAGE-3 was not associated with growth and metastatic characteristics of the melanoma cell lines analysed. In conclusion, the established human melanoma cell lines exhibited diverse growth behaviour in nude mice in congruence with some early established prognostic markers such as VLA-1 and VLA-5. The xenografts provide good models for further study of metastatic processes as well as for evaluation of alternative treatment modalities including new pharmaceutical drugs and gene therapeutic targeting using tissue-specific gene regulatory elements for gene targeting.
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PMID:Metastatic potential of human melanoma cells in nude mice--characterisation of phenotype, cytokine secretion and tumour-associated antigens. 868 21


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