Endothelin-3 is produced by metastatic melanoma cells and promotes melanoma cell survival.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-3 (ET-3) is an essential paracrine factor for the proliferation, migration, and survival of embryonic melanocytes during fetal development. Its expression is tightly regulated, being completely turned off in adult skin.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, results are presented that demonstrate abnormal expression of ET-3 by metastatic melanoma cells in both tissue biopsies and cell culture. Further, in vitro experiments showed that metastatic melanoma cells have the capacity to respond to ET-3 stimulation by increasing survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, an abnormal autocrine stimulation pathway involving ET-3 is present in metastatic melanoma cells. Blocking this signal transduction pathway may prove useful for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Tang
Liren
L
Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Su
Mingwan
M
Zhang
Yi
Y
Ip
Wency
W
Martinka
Magdalena
M
Huang
Changzheng
C
Zhou
Youwen
Y
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008544:Melanocytes; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D009506:Nevus / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D019334:Endothelin-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger