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PPAR γ regulates MITF and β‐catenin expression and promotes a differentiated phenotype in mouse melanoma S91
Author(s) -
Grabacka Maja,
Placha Wojciech,
Urbanska Krystyna,
Laidler Piotr,
Płonka Przemysław M.,
Reiss Krzysztof
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2008.00460.x
Subject(s) - microphthalmia associated transcription factor , biology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , wnt signaling pathway , melanoma , cellular differentiation , transcription factor , melanocyte , peroxisome proliferator activated receptor , phenotype , hair follicle , receptor , signal transduction , genetics , gene
Summary Melanoma represents one of the most rapidly metastasizing, hence deadly tumors due to its high proliferation rate and invasiveness, characteristics of undifferentiated embryonic tissues. Given the absence of effective therapy for metastatic melanoma, understanding more fully the molecular mechanisms underlying melanocyte differentiation may provide opportunities for novel therapeutic intervention. Here we show that in mouse melanoma S91 cells activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) γ induces events resembling differentiation, such as growth arrest accompanied by apoptosis, spindle morphology and enhanced tyrosinase expression. These events are preceded by an initial transient increase in expression from the Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor gene, ( MITF) promoter, whereas exposure to a PPAR γ ligand‐ ciglitazone that exceeds 8 h, causes a gradual decrease of MITF, until by 48 h MITF expression is substantially reduced. Beta‐catenin, an MITF transcriptional activator, shows a similar pattern of decline during ciglitazone treatment, consistent with previous reports that activated PPAR γ inhibits the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway through induction of β‐catenin proteasomal degradation. We suggest that the PPAR γ‐mediated β‐catenin down‐regulation is likely to be responsible for changes in MITF levels. The data suggest that PPAR γ, besides its well‐established role in mesenchymal cell differentiation towards adipocytes, might regulate differentiation in the melanocytic lineage.