title: Expression of protease-activated receptors 1 and 2 in melanocytic nevi and malignant melanoma.
abstract: Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily that are activated by the proteolytic cleavage of their amino terminal domain. PAR-1 activation by thrombin results in several biologic effects, including platelet adhesion to other cells or extracellular matrix, fibroblast, and endothelial cell growth, whereas PAR-2, activated by trypsin, has mainly a proinflammmatory and angiogenetic role. PAR-1 and PAR-2 modulate cell proliferation in physiopathologic cell invasion processes, suggesting that they may play a role in the setting of cancer growth and metastasis. Here, we have investigated the expression of PAR-1 and PAR-2 proteins by immunohistochemistry in a series of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions: 20 melanocytic lesions (10 common melanocytic nevi and 10 atypical or "dysplastic" melanocytic nevi) and 50 melanomas (10 in situ melanomas, 10 melanomas T1, 10 melanomas T2, 10 melanomas T3 to T4, and 10 metastatic melanomas). PAR-1 was significantly overexpressed in atypical nevi and melanomas in comparison with common melanocytic nevi. PAR-2 was strongly and diffusely expressed by immunohistochemistry in all melanocytic lesions, with no statistically significant differences between nevi and melanomas. Because we found a differential expression in PAR-1 protein, but not in PAR-2, we next investigated the expression of PAR-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) by ribonuclease protection assay in paraffin-embedded tissues using a paraffin block RNA isolation procedure. Similarly to immunohistochemical results, PAR-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in atypical nevi and melanomas in comparison with common nevi and controls. Overexpression of PAR-1 in atypical nevi and melanomas supports a role for PAR-1 in the initial phases of melanoma development as well as in tumor progression and metastasis. Conversely, the significance of PAR-2 up-regulation in both benign and malignant melanocytic lesions requires further research.
authors: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Massi
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Naldini
authors: Camilla
authors: C
authors: Ardinghi
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Carraro
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Franchi
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Paglierani
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Tarantini
authors: Sheyda
authors: S
authors: Ketabchi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Cirino
authors: Morley D
authors: MD
authors: Hollenberg
authors: Pierangelo
authors: P
authors: Geppetti
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Santucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044463:Receptor, PAR-1; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2