MMP-21 is upregulated at early stages of melanoma progression but disappears with more aggressive phenotype.
The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is frequently altered during malignant transformation. We examined the profile of three recently cloned MMPs, MMP-21, MMP-26, and MMP-28, in melanomas in vivo and in culture. Immunohistochemistry for MMPs-21, -26, -28, and -13 in melanoma specimens (27 nonmetastatic, 26 with nodal micrometastases, and 10 in situ melanomas) from 63 patients was performed. MMP-21 was expressed in melanoma cells in 29/53 cases, being more frequent in melanoma samples without micrometastases. Six out of ten in situ melanomas were positive, while five nevus samples were negative. MMP-26 and -28 were not generally expressed in melanoma cells. MMP-13 was detected in melanoma cells in 36/53 samples. MMP-21 was not found in sentinel nodes with metastases, while MMP-13 was seen in all of them. MMP-21 messenger RNA was variably expressed in all five melanoma cell lines investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Our results suggest that expression of MMP-21 may serve as a marker of malignant transformation of melanocytes and does not associate with the presence of micrometastases.
Kuivanen
Tiina
T
Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Ahokas
Katja
K
Virolainen
Susanna
S
Jahkola
Tiina
T
Hölttä
Erkki
E
Saksela
Olli
O
Saarialho-Kere
Ulpu
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C471969:MMP21 protein, human; C410599:MMP26 protein, human; C424663:MMP28 protein, human; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted