title: Loss of E-cadherin leads to upregulation of NFkappaB activity in malignant melanoma.
abstract: Malignant transformation of melanocytes frequently coincides with loss of E-cadherin expression. Here, we show that loss of E-cadherin leads to induction of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) activity in melanoma cell lines. Melanoma cells show constitutively active NFkappaB, whereas no activity is found in primary melanocytes. After re-expression of E-cadherin in melanoma cells, strong downregulation of NFkappaB activity was found. Consistently, NFkappaB activity was induced in primary human melanocytes after inhibition of E-cadherin activity by functionally blocking anti-E-cadherin antibodies. Interestingly, re-expression of E-cadherin-blocked p38 MAPK activity and the p38 MAPK inhibitors SB203580 and SB202190 almost completely prevented NFkappaB activation in melanoma cells. Furthermore, cytoplasmatic beta-catenin induced p38 and NFkappaB activation in malignant melanoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting a correlation between E-cadherin and NFkappaB activity in melanocytes and melanoma cells. In summary, we conclude that loss of E-cadherin and cytoplasmatic beta-catenin induces p38-mediated NFkappaB activation, potentially revealing an important mechanism of tumorigenesis in malignant melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuphal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jobin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellerbrand
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bosserhoff
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors