IGR_U753_MELANOMA_SC_STUDY_ZN

ABSTRACT: Melanoma cells from three surgical specimens of nodular melanoma were grown as anchorage-independent melanospheres in stem cell bFGF(+)EGF(+) medium and as adherent monolayer cultures in the presence of serum. RNA from melanospheres (DMBC2s, DMBC8s, DMBC10s) and their adherent monolayer counterparts (DMBC2a, DMBC8a, DMBC10a) were hybridized to the dual-color Agilent human genome array G4450A. A transcriptome profile was generated to explore the molecules governing phenotypes of melanospheres and monolayers. We demonstrated that melanospheres contained more pigmented cells which was consistent with higher expression of MITF and MITF-dependent genes responsible for differentiation, including TYR, TYRP1, MLANA and DCT. Expression of MITF-dependent BIRC7, BCL2 and BCL2A1 was reduced in monolayers, thus limiting the anti-apoptotic protection. The enhanced activity of MITF shown as the elevated expression of 74 MITF-dependent genes in melanospheres, identified MITF as a central regulator of this phenotype. Importantly, our study revealed that MITF and MITF-dependent genes were expressed in melanospheres at similar levels as in original tumors, much higher than in monolayers. The reduced MITF level in monolayers might be partially explained by suppression of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Differential expression of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway components and target genes in melanospheres and monolayers points to strong influence of the microenvironment on the functional outcome of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in melanoma, including differentiation, survival, proliferation and invasiveness. Silencing of the Wnt inhibitor DKK1 in monolayers increased the percentage of clonogenic cells. In summary, melanospheres more accurately mirrored the morphology, heterogeneity and gene expression profiles of original tumors than monolayers. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing melanospheres to unravel the molecular pathways sustaining melanoma heterogeneity and potentially to select compounds with anticancer activities.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Philippe DESSEN 

PROVIDER: E-MTAB-1869 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress