su-6656 and Melanoma

The Src kinase family (SKF) includes non‑receptor tyrosine kinases that interact with many cellular cytosolic, nuclear and membrane proteins, and is involved in the progression of cellular transformation and oncogenic activity. However, there is little to no evidence on the effect of SKF or its inhibitors on melanogenesis. Therefore, the present study investigated whether C‑terminal Src kinase inhibition can induce melanogenesis and examined the associated signaling pathways and mRNA expression of melanogenic proteins. First, whether stimulators of melanogenesis, such as ultraviolet B and α‑melanocyte‑stimulating hormone, can dephosphorylate Src protein was evaluated, and the results revealed that SU6656 and PP2 inhibited the phosphorylation of Src in G361 cells. Src inhibition by these chemical inhibitors induced melanogenesis in G361 cells and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of melanogenesis‑associated genes encoding microphthalmia‑associated transcription factor, tyrosinase‑related protein 1 (TRP1), TRP2, and tyrosinase. In addition, Src inhibition by small interfering RNA induced melanogenesis and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of melanogenesis‑associated genes. As the p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding (CREB) pathways serve key roles in melanogenesis, the present study further examined whether Src mediates melanogenesis via these pathways. As expected, Src inhibition via SU6656 or PP2 administration induced the phosphorylation of p38 or CREB, as determined by western blotting analysis, and increased the levels of phosphorylated p38 or CREB, as determined by immunofluorescence staining. In addition, the induced pigmentation and melanin content of G361 cells by Src inhibitors was significantly inhibited by p38 or CREB inhibitors. Taken together, these data indicate that Src is associated with melanogenesis, and Src inhibition induces melanogenesis via the MAPK and CREB pathways in G361 cells.

Topics: alpha-MSH; Biomarkers; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Indoles; Melanins; Melanoma; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Pyrimidines; RNA, Small Interfering; src-Family Kinases; Sulfonamides; Ultraviolet Rays

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase conserved in all eukaryotes that plays a key role in cell growth and is a central effector of several pathways regulating essential cell functions. Hyperactivation of the mTORdependent signalling pathway occurs in many human diseases and may be a selective target for their therapy. However, the dual nature of mTOR, existing in two multiprotein complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2 driven by different feedback loops, decreases the therapeutic effects of rapamycin, the specific mTOR inhibitor. In the present study we demonstrate that the mTORC1 signalling pathway is highly activated in human melanoma cells and that up-regulation of this pathway along with the growth and malignity of these cells could be suppressed by disruption of the Src activity. SU6656, the selective inhibitor of the Src kinase activity, decreased up-regulation of the mTORC1 signalling and moreover, unlike rapamycin, it did not induce the activation of Akt/PKB and its downstream targets in HBL melanoma cells. The Src protein was found to be associated with raptor in the mTORC1 complex immunoprecipitated from these cells, suggesting that the Src activity might be a new attractive target for monotherapeutic inhibition of the up-regulated mTORC1 signalling pathway.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Indoles; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Melanoma; Multiprotein Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR; Signal Transduction; Sirolimus; src-Family Kinases; Sulfonamides; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Tumor Stem Cell Assay