MGRN1 depletion promotes intercellular adhesion in melanoma by upregulation of E-cadherin and inhibition of CDC42.

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 is an E3-ubiquitin ligase encoded by the color gene MGRN1. Our previous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Mgrn1 deletion in mouse melanoma cells induced cell differentiation and adhesion, and decreased cell motility and invasion on collagen I, and lung colonization in an in vivo model. Here, we investigated the role of MGRN1 on human melanoma cell morphology, adhesion and expression of genes/proteins involved in an EMT-like transition. We demonstrated that wild-type BRAF human melanoma cells adopted a clustering-like morphology on collagen I, with permanent MGRN1 abrogation resulting in bigger cell clusters. Enhanced intercellular adhesion was mostly mediated by induction of E-cadherin and higher co-localization with ß-catenin. Transcriptional upregulation of E-cadherin likely occurred through downregulation of the ZEB1 repressor. Finally, pulldown assays showed reduced activation of CDC42 in the absence of MGRN1, which was reverted after E-cadherin silencing. Overall, these findings highlight a new MGRN1-dependent pathway regulating melanoma cell shape, motility, and invasion potential.

MC1R gene variants and non-melanoma skin cancer: a pooled-analysis from the M-SKIP project.

BACKGROUND: The melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) gene regulates human pigmentation and is highly polymorphic in populations of European origins. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between MC1R variants and the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), and to investigate whether risk estimates differed by phenotypic characteristics. METHODS: Data on 3527 NMSC cases and 9391 controls were gathered through the M-SKIP Project, an international pooled-analysis on MC1R, skin cancer and phenotypic characteristics. We calculated summary odds ratios (SOR) with random-effect models, and performed stratified analyses. RESULTS: Subjects carrying at least one MC1R variant had an increased risk of NMSC overall, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): SOR (95%CI) were 1.48 (1.24-1.76), 1.39 (1.15-1.69) and 1.61 (1.35-1.91), respectively. All of the investigated variants showed positive associations with NMSC, with consistent significant results obtained for V60L, D84E, V92M, R151C, R160W, R163Q and D294H: SOR (95%CI) ranged from 1.42 (1.19-1.70) for V60L to 2.66 (1.06-6.65) for D84E variant. In stratified analysis, there was no consistent pattern of association between MC1R and NMSC by skin type, but we consistently observed higher SORs for subjects without red hair. CONCLUSIONS: Our pooled-analysis highlighted a role of MC1R variants in NMSC development and suggested an effect modification by red hair colour phenotype.

Variant amino acids in different domains of the human melanocortin 1 receptor impair cell surface expression.

The alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1R) is a heptahelical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) found in the plasma membrane of melanocytes. By mediating the melanogenic response to melanocortins, MC1R is a major determinant of mammalian pigmentation. The human MC1R gene is unusually polymorphic. Many loss-of-function alleles have been described, but the molecular basis for their functional impairment remains most often unknown. Here we report a study of two natural MC1R loss-of-function variants, Leu93Arg and Arg162Pro, and two artificial mutants, Cys35Ala and a deleted form missing the last five amino acids in the carboxyl tail. When expressed in HEK 293T cells, those mutants neither bound an iodinated hormone analogue nor elicited cAMP increases in response to saturating doses of a superpotent agonist. Cell surface expression of mutant receptors was dramatically decreased respect to the wild type form, in spite of smaller changes in total protein abundances and intracellular stability. Accordingly, aberrant processing with intracellular retention is the most likely cause of loss-of-function for those mutants. Therefore, mutations in virtually any region of the heptahelical protein, including its extracellular N terminus, a transmembrane fragment, intracellular loops or carboxyl terminal cytosolic extension, seem to compromise normal MC1R processing.

The melanocortin-1 receptor carboxyl terminal pentapeptide is essential for MC1R function and expression on the cell surface.

The pigmentary actions of the melanocortins are mediated by the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), a seven transmembrane domains receptor positively coupled to Gs and the cAMP cascade. In order to define the structure-function relationships of potentially relevant domains in MC1R, particularly its C-terminal cytosolic tail, we generated and analyzed several variants with C-terminal deletions, as well as point mutants in selected residues of the human MC1R. We show that the MC1R C-terminal pentapeptide is essential for proper receptor expression on the plasma membrane, and that residues Thr314, Cys315 and Trp317 are at least partially responsible for this effect.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-invasive effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in human melanoma cells.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is known to have pleiotrophic functions including pigmentary, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and immunoregulatory roles in the mammalian body. It is also reported to influence melanoma invasion with levels of alpha-, beta- and gamma-MSH correlated clinically with malignant melanoma development, but other studies suggest alpha-MSH acts to retard invasion. In the present study, we investigated the action of alpha-MSH on three human melanoma cell lines (HBL, A375-SM and C8161) differing in metastatic potential. alpha-melanocyte-simulating hormone reduced invasion through fibronectin and also through a human reconstructed skin composite model for the HBL line, and inhibited proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated activation of the NF-kappaB transcription factor. However, A375-SM and C8161 cells did not respond to alpha-MSH. Immunofluorescent microscopy and Western blotting identified melanocortin-1 receptor (MC-1R) expression for all three lines and MC-2R on HBL and A375-SM lines. Receptor binding identified a similar affinity for alpha-MSH for all three lines with the highest number of binding sites on HBL cells. Only the HBL melanoma line demonstrated a detectable cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response to alpha-MSH, although all three lines responded to acute alpha-MSH addition (+(-)-N(6)-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA)) with an elevation in intracellular calcium. The nonresponsive lines displayed MC-1R polymorphisms (C8161, Arg (wt) 151/Cys 151; A375-SM, homozygous Cys 151), whereas the HBL line was wild type. Stable transfection of the C8161 line with wild-type MC-1R produced cells whose invasion was significantly inhibited by alpha-MSH. From this data, we conclude that alpha-MSH can reduce melanoma cell invasion and protect cells against proinflammatory cytokine attack in cells with the wild-type receptor (HBL).

Thr40 and Met122 are new partial loss-of-function natural mutations of the human melanocortin 1 receptor.

Activation by melanocortins of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), expressed in epidermal melanocytes, stimulates melanogenesis. Human MC1R gene loss-of-function mutations are associated with fair skin, poor tanning and increased skin cancer risk. We identified two natural alleles: Ile40Thr, probably associated with skin types I-II, and Val122Met. Val122Met bound [(125)I][Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]-alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone with lower affinity than the wild-type. Dose-response curves of cAMP accumulation were right-shifted for both forms. The Val122Met form failed to achieve maximal cAMP responses comparable to the wild-type or Ile40Thr receptors. Thus, the Ile40Thr and Val122Met variants are partial loss-of-function natural mutations of MC1R.

Inhibition of melanogenesis in response to oxidative stress: transient downregulation of melanocyte differentiation markers and possible involvement of microphthalmia transcription factor.

H(2)O(2) and other reactive oxygen species are key regulators of many intracellular pathways. Within mammalian skin, H(2)O(2) is formed as a byproduct of melanin synthesis, and following u.v. irradiation. We therefore analyzed its effects on melanin synthesis. The activity of the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme, tyrosinase, decreased in H(2)O(2)-treated mouse and human melanoma cells. This inhibition was concentration- and time-dependent in the B16 melanoma model. Maximal inhibition (50-75%) occurred 8-16 hours after a 20 minute exposure to 0.5 mM H(2)O(2). B16 cells withstand this treatment adequately, as shown by a small effect on glutathione levels and a rapid recovery of basal lipid peroxidation levels. Enzyme activities also recovered, beginning to increase 16-20 hours after the treatment. Inhibition of enzyme activities reflected decreased protein levels. mRNAs for tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, dopachrome tautomerase, silver protein and melanocortin 1 receptor also decreased after H(2)O(2) treatment, and recovered at different rates. Downregulation of melanocyte differentiation markers mRNAs was preceded by a decrease in microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) gene expression, which was quantitatively similar to the decrease achieved using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Recovery of basal Mitf mRNA levels was also observed clearly before that of tyrosinase. Therefore, oxidative stress may lead to hypopigmentation by mechanisms that include a microphthalmia-dependent downregulation of the melanogenic enzymes.

Transforming growth factor beta1 mediates hypopigmentation of B16 mouse melanoma cells by inhibition of melanin formation and melanosome maturation.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) downregulates tyrosinase in B16 melanoma cells by decreasing gene expression and the intracellular half-life of the enzyme, but does not block tyrosinase stimulation by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alphaMSH). In the presence of both agents, the enzymatic activity is intermediate between the one of cells treated with either agent alone. Here we show that TGFbeta1 equally inhibits the melanogenic activities of melan-a melanocytes and B16 melanoma cells, thus validating the B16 model. In both cell types, TGFbeta1 (10(-10) M, 48 h) inhibited to comparable levels tyrosine hydroxylation and melanin formation from L-tyrosine. Thus, the inhibitory effect is exerted mainly at the rate limiting step of the pathway. By means of quantitative image analysis techniques, we also studied the effects of TGFbeta1 and alphaMSH on melanosome number, volume density and maturation degree. alphaMSH (10(-7) M, 48 h) increased 7-fold melanosome volume density, whereas TGFbeta1 by itself had no significant effect. However, melanosomal volume density was intermediate in cells treated with both agents, as compared to control or alphaMSH-treated cells. Moreover, TGFbeta1 blocked the alphaMSH-elicited increase in the number of melanosomes. Control and alphaMSH-treated melanocytes contained more stage I+II premelanosomes and stage IV, fully melanized organelles than partially melanized stage III melanosomes. TGFbeta1 increased the percentage of stage III melanosomes. This trend was even more marked in cells treated with alphaMSH and TGFbeta1. The accumulation of incompletely melanized melanosomes is consistent with the inhibition of melanin formation activity by TGFbeta1 and with its hypopigmenting effect.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a unique multipotent polyphenol oxidase from Marinomonas mediterranea.

Marinomonas mediterranea is a recently isolated melanogenic marine bacterium containing laccase and tyrosinase activities. These activities are due to the expression of two polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), a blue multicopper laccase and an SDS-activated tyrosinase. The gene encoding the first one, herein denominated M. mediterranea PpoA, has been isolated by transposon mutagenesis, cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Its predicted amino acid sequence shows the existence of a signal peptide and four copper-binding sites characteristic of the blue multicopper proteins, including all fungal laccases. In addition, two additional putative copper-binding sites near its N-terminus are also present. Recombinant expression in E. coli of this protein clearly demonstrates its multipotent capability, showing both laccase-like and tyrosinase-like activities. This is the first prokaryotic laccase sequenced and the first PPO showing such multipotent catalytic activity. The expression of several truncated products indicates that the four copper-binding sites typical of blue multicopper proteins are essential for the laccase activity of this enzyme. However, the last two of these sites are not necessary for tyrosine hydroxylase activity as this activity is retained in a truncated product containing the first two sites as well as the extra histidine-rich clusters close to the N-terminus of the protein.

The 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) oxidase activity of human tyrosinase.

Melanin synthesis in mammals is catalysed by at least three enzymic proteins, tyrosinase (monophenol dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) and tyrosinase-related proteins (tyrps) 1 and 2, whose genes map to the albino, brown and slaty loci in mice, respectively. Tyrosinase catalyses the rate-limiting generation of L-dopaquinone from L-tyrosine and is also able to oxidize L-dopa to L-dopaquinone. Conversely, mouse tyrp1, but not tyrosinase, catalyses the oxidation of the indolic intermediate 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) into the corresponding 5,6-indolequinone-2-carboxylic acid, thus promoting the incorporation of DHICA units into eumelanin. The catalytic activities of the human melanogenic enzymes are still debated. TYRP1 has been reported to lack DHICA oxidase activity, whereas tyrosinase appears to accelerate DHICA consumption, thus raising the question of DHICA metabolism in human melanocytes. Here we have used two different approaches, comparison of the catalytic activities of human melanocytic cell lines expressing the full set of melanogenic enzymes or deficient in TYRP1, and transient expression of TYR and tyr genes in COS7 cells, to demonstrate that human tyrosinase actually functions as a DHICA oxidase, as opposed to the mouse enzyme. Therefore, human tyrosinase displays a broader substrate specificity than its mouse counterpart, and might be at least partially responsible for the incorporation of DHICA units into human eumelanins.

New insights on the structure of the mouse silver locus and on the function of the silver protein.

The melanosomal proteins encoded by the silver locus play important roles in melanogenesis. The human locus yields two proteins, PMEL17 and GP100, by alternative mRNA splicing. The mouse si locus was reported to encode a Pmel17 protein, and later gp87, a GP100 homologue. When we re-examined the products of wild-type and silver-mutant mouse si loci, RT-PCR of wild-type RNA and genomic DNA sequence accounted for gp87 but excluded the occurrence of Pmel17. Analysis of cDNA from the silver (si/si) melanocyte line, melan-si, showed that the pathogenic mutation is a G to A substitution at nt 1808, which yields a premature stop codon and a predicted protein truncated in the C-terminus. This was confirmed by reaction of a specific anti-gp87 antiserum with si/si melanocyte extracts. To further explore gp87 function, we compared the DHICA oxidase activity of extracts from B16, melan-si (heterozygous for the brown mutation and homozygous for the silver mutation) and Cloudman S91 cells (homozygous for the brown mutation), since both TRP1 and gp87 are thought to be involved in DHICA oxidation/polymerization. Cloudman extracts do not oxidize significantly DHICA and its methyl ester, supporting the involvement of native mouse TRP1 in DHICA oxidation. Extracts from B16 and melan-si do not show significant differences for the oxidation of free acid and methylated dihydroxyindoles, indicating that the mechanism is not decarboxylative. Melan-si extracts are very efficient in catalyzing dihydroxyindole oxidation, in spite of being heterozygous for the TRP1 mutation, consistent with a stablin effect for the wild-type gp87 protein. On the other hand, aggregated and degraded forms of that mutant gp87 protein are found in the cytosolic fraction of melan-si, suggesting that misrouting and aberrant processing of the gp87 and tyrosinase may also be related to the high DHICA oxidase activity of these melanocytes.

Regulation of the murine silver locus product (gp87) by the hypopigmenting cytokines TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha.

The melanosomal proteins encoded by the silver (si, SILV, or PMEL17) locus play important roles in melanogenesis and are actively investigated as targets for melanoma immunotherapy. The human silver locus yields two proteins, gp100 and PMEL17, by alternative splicing of a common mRNA precursor. Mouse melanocytes exclusively express the gp100 orthologue, here termed gp87, thus providing a simpler model with which to study the silver locus products. We have analyzed the effects of [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alphaMSH) and two hypopigmenting cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, on the expression of gp87 in B16 mouse melanoma cells. TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 (at saturating doses for 48 hr) decreased gp87 mRNA by 50%. The gp87 protein was almost undetectable by Western immunoblotting after TNF-alpha treatment, but was not affected by TGF-beta1. alphaMSH increased the mRNA and the gp87 protein approximately 2-fold. Moreover, the amount of gp87 was not reduced by TNF-alpha in the presence of the hormone, in spite of a 50%, decrease in its mRNA. Therefore, the levels of mRNA and gp87 protein did not correlate after treatment with the cytokines. Overall, our data suggest that the silver locus product is not regulated exclusively at the transcriptional level, and highlight the importance of still-uncharacterized regulatory translational and/or post-translational events.

Neurotoxicity due to o-quinones: neuromelanin formation and possible mechanisms for o-quinone detoxification.

o-Quinones are easily formed by oxidation of physiologically relevant catechols. These reactions mainly occur in two specialized cells, catecholaminergic neurons and melanocytes. Both types of cells are related ontogenetically, as they arise from the neural crest during the developmental differentiation. o-Quinones are used to form melanin, a protective pigment formed by different mechanisms in melanocytes and catecholaminergic neurons. However, the reactivity of these quinones makes their presence in the cytosol dangerous for the cell survival and these compounds have been proposed as degenerative and apoptotic agents. Thus, melanin-producing cells show several potential mechanisms to protect themselves against the noxious effects of o-quinones. In melanocytes, the most effective autoprotecting mechanisms are the existence of malanosomes as a confined site for melano-synthesis and the action of tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2) to drive L-dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid minimizing the formation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole. In catecholaminergic neurons, recent data suggest that glutathione transferase (GST M2-2 isoenzyme) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are very effective in preventing long-lived formation of dopaminechrome and noradrenochrome, although the detoxification reactions are different (conjugation to GSH or isomerization respectively). These mechanisms are less efficient for adrenochrome, although MIF and GST M1-1 could also catalyze similar reactions using this compound as substrate. In addition, the formation of adrenochrome is still under discussion, and adrenolutin formation could contribute to deactivate its harmful effects. The contribution of D-dopachrome tautomerase to these mechanisms is yet unknown, although in contrast to MIF, that enzyme does not recognize catecholaminechromes as substrates. Diaphorase could also be protective against quinones, since this enzyme catalyzes their bielectronic reduction back to catechols, thus preventing the formation of chrome species. This activity has been described in melanocytes and neurons, so that its contribution should be further investigated. In contrast to diaphorase, cytochrome P450 reductase should not be considered a protective enzyme, since its monoelectronic reduction of quinones leads to formation of semiquinones, that is, even more noxious than the quinones.

Expression of the MC1 receptor gene in normal and malignant human melanocytes. A semiquantitative RT-PCR study.

Alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and related proopiomelanocortin-derived (POMC) peptides bind to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1-R) of mammalian melanocytes and stimulate proliferation and melanogenesis. POMC transcripts and alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity have been found in melanoma cells and a possible autocrine loop involving MC1-R and POMC-derived products has been proposed. Therefore, the alpha-MSH/MC1-R system plays a major role in the biology of melanocytes, and provides targets for melanoma diagnosis and therapy. However, the relative levels of MC1-R expression in normal melanocytes (NM) and melanoma cells are unknown, and it is still debated whether or not all human melanomas express the MC1-R. We describe a semiquantitative RT-PCR assay for MC1-R expression, using a competition vector generated by deleting 164 bp of the native gene. The competitor was employed to analyse a panel of human melanoma cells, tumour samples, giant congenital nevus cells (CNM) and normal melanocytes (NM). All samples were positive for MC1-R expression, but expression of the receptor gene did not correlate with that of tyrosinase. Expression levels were about 10 and 20 times higher for surgical specimens and cultured melanoma cells, respectively, than for NM, but comparable for CNM and NM. Thus, high MC1-R expression is a frequent event in malignant melanocytes, and might lead to a higher activity of the alpha-MSH/MC1-R system in melanoma cells as compared to normal melanocytes, for equal local concentrations of the hormone or related melanocortins.

Independent regulation of tyrosinase by the hypopigmenting cytokines TGF beta1 and TNF alpha and the melanogenic hormone alpha-MSH in B16 mouse melanocytes.

In B16 melanocytes, tyrosinase activity and melanin formation are upregulated by alpha-MSH and downregulated by TGF beta1 and TNF alpha. Since TGF beta1 or TNF alpha block the differentiation programs induced by throphic hormones in other cell types, we studied tyrosinase regulation by alpha-MSH in the presence of the hypopigmenting cytokines, as well as the effects of the cytokines on several aspects of alpha-MSH signaling. TGF beta1 and TNF alpha only slightly diminished MC1 receptor gene expression, and had no effect on the intracellular levels of cAMP, or on the alpha-MSH-dependent cAMP rise. The intracellular levels of tyrosinase mRNA, protein and enzymatic activities were also upregulated by alpha-MSH in cells pretreated with TGF beta1 or TNF alpha. Therefore the cytokines do not block the response to alpha-MSH. However, the cytokine-induced inhibition of tyrosinase gene expression, protein levels and the reduction of tyrosinase intracellular half-life also occurred in the presence of alpha-MSH, indicating that the hormone does not override TGF beta1 or TNF alpha inhibition. Thus, tyrosinase activity and the rate of melanin formation in B16 melanocytes might reflect simply the balance between alpha-MSH stimulation and TGF beta1 or TNF alpha inhibition, acting by independent mechanisms.

The melanogenic system of Xenopus laevis.

Melanin pigments in lower vertebrates are often found in locations other than the skin, thus forming an extracutaneous pigmentary system of unknown function. The cellular and biochemical structure of this system is still poorly characterized. This paper deals with the ultrastructural and biochemical features of the melanogenic system of Xenopus laevis. Melanin containing cells were identified in the dorsal and ventral skin, and in the lung, spleen, liver and connective tissue surrounding blood vessels. The pigment cells in the skin and the lungs appeared to be typical melanocytes. The spleen contained isolated melanocyte-like cells, but most of the pigment cells present in this organ were associated with melanomacrophage centers. Conversely, the liver appeared devoid of melanocytes and only displayed melanomacrophage centers. Tyrosinase activity was found in all pigment-containing organs except the liver. All organs containing tyrosinase activity also displayed melanin formation potential from L-tyrosine. Therefore, tyrosine hydroxylase and melanin formation activities could be detected only in those organs containing typical melanocytes but not in locations such as the liver, where only melanomacrophages centers were found.

Mechanisms of melanogenesis inhibition by tumor necrosis factor-alpha in B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells.

The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is present in the dermal and epidermal layers of normal skin [Kilgus, O., Payer, E., Schreiber, S., Elbe, A., Strohal, R. & Stingl, G. (1993) J. Invest. Dermatol. 100, 674-680]. Its local concentrations are modified by several stimuli, including wound healing and ultraviolet irradiation. Moreover, TNF-alpha inhibits melanogenesis in normal melanocytes [Swope, V., Abdel-Malek, Z., Kassem, L. & Norlund, J. (1991) J. Invest. Dermatol. 96, 180-185], and is, therefore, a potential autocrine/paracrine regulator of pigmentation. We have analyzed the mechanisms of this effect using B16/F10 melanoma cells as a model. Nanomolar concentrations of TNF-alpha inhibit the tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa oxidase activities of B16/F10 melanocytes, to less than 30% control levels, without effects on tyrosinase-related protein 2/dopachrome tautomerase (TRP2/DCT). The 50% inhibition was obtained at 1 nM TNF-alpha and 48 h treatment. The effect of TNF-alpha was noticeable after 6 h treatment, and maximal after 24 h. This inhibition is explained by decreased intracellular levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1), but not of TRP2/DCT as detected by Western blotting. Northern-blot experiments showed that the inhibitory effect is partially explained by a reduced accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs, that dropped to about 50% of control values (48 h treatment, 5 nM TNF-alpha). Moreover, the tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa oxidase activities decreased more rapidly in TNF-alpha-treated cells than in control cells, under conditions of inhibition of protein synthesis. This suggests a TNF-mediated reduction of tyrosinase half-life. However, the possibility of an inhibitory post-translational modification of the enzyme induced by TNF cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha on tyrosinase and TRP-1 results from combined effect on mRNA levels and enzymatic activity or protein stability.