title: H ferritin gene silencing in a human metastatic melanoma cell line: a proteomic analysis.
abstract: Ferritin, the major intracellular iron-storage protein, is made of 24 subunits of two types, H and L. Besides regulating intracellular iron homeostasis, it has been found that ferritin, in particular the H subunit (FHC), is involved in different biological events such as cell differentiation and pathologic states (i.e., neurodegeneration and cancer). This study is aimed at investigating the whole-cell proteome of FHC-expressing and sh-RNA-silenced human metastatic melanoma cells (MM07(m)) in the attempt to identify and classify the highest number of proteins directly or indirectly controlled by the FHC. We identified about 200 differentially expressed proteins and classified them in clusters on the basis of their functions, as proteins involved in metabolic processes, cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation processes. Some of them have captured our attention because of their involvement in metabolic pathways related to tumor progression and metastasis. In vitro assays confirmed that the FHC-silenced MM07(m) cells are characterized by a decreased growth activity, a reduced invasiveness, and a reduced cell adhesion capability. Moreover, nude mice (CD1 nu/nu), subcutaneously injected with FHC-silenced MM07(m) cells, showed a remarkable 4-fold reduction of their tumor growth capacity compared to those who received the FHC-unsilenced MM07(m) counterpart. In conclusion, these data indicate that gene silencing technology, coupled to proteomic analysis, is a powerful tool for a better understanding of H ferritin signaling pathways and lend support to the hypothesis that specific targeting of this gene might be an attractive and potentially effective strategy for the management of metastatic melanoma.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica G. Salvatore, Università degli Studi di Catanzaro Magna Græcia, viale Europa, Campus Universitario, S. Venuta-88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Maddalena
authors: M
authors: Di Sanzo
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Gaspari
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Misaggi
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Romeo
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Falbo
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: De Marco
authors: Valter
authors: V
authors: Agosti
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Quaresima
authors: Tullio
authors: T
authors: Barni
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Viglietto
authors: Martin Røssel
authors: MR
authors: Larsen
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Cuda
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Costanzo
authors: Maria Concetta
authors: MC
authors: Faniello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001052:Apoferritins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D020868:Gene Silencing; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D055442:Metabolome; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D020543:Proteome; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D001052:Apoferritins