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micro RNA ‐21 is upregulated in malignant melanoma and influences apoptosis of melanocytic cells
Author(s) -
Satzger Imke,
Mattern Anika,
Kuettler Uta,
Weinspach Dirk,
Niebuhr Margarete,
Kapp Alexander,
Gutzmer Ralf
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01510.x
Subject(s) - downregulation and upregulation , melanoma , apoptosis , cancer research , cell growth , endogeny , cell culture , cell , biology , medicine , endocrinology , gene , genetics
Overexpression of micro RNA ‐21 (mi R ‐21) has been observed in various cancer types, but little is known about the role of mi R ‐21 in melanoma. In this study, we demonstrate that levels of mi R ‐21 are significantly increased in primary melanoma tissues as compared to benign nevi and in human melanoma cell lines as compared to melanocytic cell preparations. We show that downregulation of mi R ‐21 in melanoma cell lines with high endogenous mi R ‐21 expression induced apoptosis, whereas proliferation was not significantly altered. Upregulation of mi R ‐21 in melanocytes resulted in increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. However, in the MEWO melanoma cells with low endogenous mi R ‐21 expression, upregulation of mi R ‐21 had no functional effects. These findings indicate a potential pathogenetic role of mi R ‐21 upregulation in a subgroup of melanomas.