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Comparative Expression of Histidine Decarboxylase (HDC) Protein in B16F10 Melanoma Cells and Nontumorigenic Melan‐A Melanocytes
Author(s) -
Gruetter Carl Alfred,
Davis Steven C,
Clark Sheena L,
McKee Kristen R,
Green Todd L
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.898.15
Subject(s) - histidine decarboxylase , histaminergic , histamine , melanoma , endogeny , biology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , endocrinology , histidine , biochemistry
Histamine is a well‐recognized intermediary in many normal biological and pathophysiological processes. Previous research has suggested a possible involvement of histamine in certain cancers. Evidence of an endogenous up‐regulated histaminergic system in diverse cancer cells supports some form of involvement of histamine with tumor cell proliferation. Based on this evidence we tested the hypothesis that cancerous melanoma cells have increased expression of the histamine‐forming enzyme HDC when compared to normal melanocytes. Immunohistochemistry for HDC demonstrated marked expression of HDC in cancerous B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Western blot analysis revealed increased levels of HDC protein expression in the B16F10 cells when compared to non‐cancerous murine Melan‐A melanocytes. Together with previously published data, the increased HDC expression within melanoma cells indicates the presence of an up‐regulated endogenous histaminergic system in these cancerous cells that could act extracellularly or intracellulary to affect cellular signaling pathways. Further experiments are needed to determine if the up‐regulated endogenous histaminergic system has an important function in melanoma cells to regulate cell migration and invasiveness.