Possible role of galectin-9 in cell aggregation and apoptosis of human melanoma cell lines and its clinical significance.
Galectin-9 expression was examined in 6 human melanoma cell lines. Among them, MM-BP proliferated with colony formation, but MM-RU failed. RT-PCR analysis revealed evident expression of galectin-9 mRNA in MM-BP but not in MM-RU. MM-BP expressed galectin-9 protein both on the surface and in the cytoplasm, whereas MM-RU expressed it only weakly in the cytoplasm. Exogenous galectin-9 induced in vitro both cell aggregation and apoptosis of MM-RU proliferating without colony formation. Association of galectin-9 expression in melanoma cells with prognosis of the patients bearing melanocytic tumors was further examined. Galectin-9 protein was strongly and homogeneously expressed in melanocytic nevi, but down-regulated in melanoma cells especially in metastatic lesions. High galectin-9 expression was inversely correlated with the progression of this disease, suggesting that high galectin-9 expression in primary melanoma lesions links to a better prognosis.
Department of Dermatology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto, Japan. toshiro@kaiju.medic.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Toshiro
T
Kageshita
Yumiko
Y
Kashio
Akira
A
Yamauchi
Masako
M
Seki
Mohammad Jainul
MJ
Abedin
Nozomu
N
Nishi
Hiroki
H
Shoji
Takanori
T
Nakamura
Tomomichi
T
Ono
Mitsuomi
M
Hirashima
D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D017304:Annexin A5; D017931:DNA Primers; D037161:Galectins; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D037102:Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm