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Down‐regulation of the expression of RB18A/MED1, a cofactor of transcription, triggers strong tumorigenic phenotype of human melanoma cells
Author(s) -
Ndong Jean de La Croix,
Jean Didier,
Rousselet Nathalie,
Frade Raymond
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.24253
Subject(s) - phenotype , transcription factor , melanoma , transcription (linguistics) , biology , cofactor , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , enzyme , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy
The RB18A/MED1 human gene, also named TRAP220 , DRIP205 and PBP , encodes for a single 205 kDa component, which interacts with nuclear receptors and transcription factors. RB18A/MED1 chromosome localization on locus 17q12‐q21.1 suggests its involvement in human cancers. We herein analyzed RB18A/MED1 expression in human melanoma cell lines. We found that RB18A/MED1 is either highly or weakly expressed in melanoma cells, depending on their respectively non or highly‐tumorigenic phenotype. We therefore investigated the possible existence of a relationship between the RB18A/MED1 expression level and melanoma cell phenotype. For this purpose, we down‐regulated RB18A/MED1 expression by transfecting melanoma cells with a RB18A/MED1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), specific to the 3′‐untranslated region of native RB18A/MED1 RNA, already demonstrated to inhibit specifically RB18A/MED1 protein expression. A nonspecific (scrambled) siRNA was used as control. This RB18A/MED1 siRNA did not modify the expression of cathepsin L forms or lamin A/C, nor the secretion of procathepsin L and MMP2 in transfected cells. Analysis using a microarray membrane with 113 cancer‐related genes, western blot and specific tests, demonstrated that RB18A/MED1 knockdown significantly inhibits tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐3 expression, and increases uPAR expression, two genes well known to be involved in melanoma cell invasion, through modifications of the tumor microenvironment. Indeed, RB18A/MED1 knockdown in melanoma cells in vitro increased their invasive properties, without modification of cell proliferation. Furthermore, RB18A/MED1 knockdown in vivo switched melanoma phenotype from non to strongly‐tumorigenic in nude mice. Our data thus demonstrated for the first time that a decrease of RB18A/MED1 expression in human melanoma cells increases their tumorigenic phenotype. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.