title: Expression of miRNAs as Important Element of Melanoma Cell Plasticity in Response to Microenvironmental Stimuli.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma cells form monolayers in serum-containing media, however, in serum-free media they form anchorage-independent spheroids. We investigated miRNAs differentially expressed between these culture types and identified those that possibly control the plasticity of melanoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of miRNAs in melanoma cells was evaluated with microarrays, and certain miRNAs were validated with real-time PCR. Several bioinformatic tools were used to assess the involvement of identified miRNAs in cancer-related pathways, and to compile the results of mRNA microarray data from the same melanoma cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 miRNAs were differentially expressed between monolayers and spheroids. miRNAs up-regulated in spheroids modulated cell motility and migration, whereas those up-regulated in monolayers suppressed melanogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study identified those miRNAs that participate in the regulation of melanoma cell plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland michal.wozniak@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sztiller-Sikorska
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czyz
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: anchorage-independent growth; melanoma; melanospheres; miRNA