DHA induces apoptosis and differentiation in human melanoma cells in vitro: involvement of HuR-mediated COX-2 mRNA stabilization and β-catenin nuclear translocation.

Gabriella Calviello, Simona Serini, Elena Fasano, Elisabetta Piccioni, Giovanni Monego, Achille Renato Maria Cittadini, Leonardo Celleno, Franco Oreste Ranelletti

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

53 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

The pro-inflammatory phenotype accompanying melanoma progression includes an enhanced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which plays an important role in the acquisition of apoptosis resistance, and is a suitable target for melanoma prevention and therapy. We observed that the WM266-4 metastatic melanoma cell line showed a constitutive COX-2 expression higher than that of the primary WM115 cells, an increased cytosolic level of the COX-2 messenger RNA (mRNA)-stabilizer human antigen R (HuR) and a lower susceptibility to basal apoptosis. The transfection of HuR siRNA induced apoptosis and reduced COX-2 protein abundance in both the cells. The same effects were observed treating the cells with the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which reduced the cytoplasmic location and expression of HuR and, correspondently, decreased COX-2 protein expression and induced apoptosis. DHA also decreased the expression and stability of COX-2 mRNA, increased the β-catenin expression in the nuclei and reduced it in the cytosol, where it forms a complex with HuR and COX-2 mRNA. DHA had also a pro-differentiating effect, which is compatible with the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. These findings allow us to associate for the first time the constitutive expression of COX-2 in melanoma cells to the HuR-mediated stabilization of its mRNA and suggest that also β-catenin may play a role in HuR-mediated COX-2 stabilization in these cells. The data demonstrate that the HuR-mediated stabilization of COX-2 may represent a target of DHA action in melanoma cells and suggest the application of DHA in the prevention and therapy of melanoma.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)164-173
Numero di pagine10
RivistaCarcinogenesis
Volume33
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2012

Keywords

  • COX-2 mRNA
  • HuR
  • apoptosis
  • melanoma
  • n-3 PUFA

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