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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Injection of Syngeneic Murine Melanoma Cells to Determine Their Metastatic Potential in the Lungs
Published on: May 24, 2016
Melanotransferrin induces human melanoma SK-Mel-28 cell invasion in vivo
Yanick Bertrand1, Michel Demeule, Jonathan Michaud-Levesque
1Laboratoire de Médecine Moléculaire, Service d'Hémato-Oncologie-Hôpital Ste-Justine/BIomed-Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Que., Canada H3C 3P8.
Abstract:
The expression of melanotransferrin (MTf), a membrane-bound glycoprotein highly expressed in melanomas, is correlated with tumor vascularization and progression, suggesting a proinvasive function associated with MTf in malignant tumors. To test this hypothesis, we silenced MTf in human melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA) and examined the plasmin activity and invasiveness of MTf-silenced melanoma. In vitro, the siRNA-mediated MTf knockdown inhibited by 58% the cell surface activation of plasminogen into plasmin. In addition, decreased expression of MTf in melanoma cells reduced cell migration. In vivo, we used a nude mice invasion model in which tissue factor (TF) induces vascular [125I]-fibrin deposition following injection. Using this metastasis model, the invasive potential of MTf-silenced cells into the lungs was reduced by fivefold. Altogether, these findings strongly suggest that MTf overexpression in melanoma cells contributes to tumor progression by stimulating plasmin generation as well as cell migration and invasion.
Insights
Melanotransferrin (MTf) promotes melanoma progression. Silencing MTf in melanoma cells significantly reduced plasmin activity, migration, and invasion in both in vitro and in vivo models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Melanotransferrin (MTf) is a glycoprotein highly expressed in melanomas.
- MTf expression correlates with tumor vascularization and progression, suggesting a proinvasive role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MTf in melanoma invasiveness.
- To determine if MTf silencing affects plasmin activity, cell migration, and metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Human melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence MTf expression.
- In vitro assays assessed cell surface plasminogen activation and cell migration.
- An in vivo nude mice metastasis model was used to evaluate invasive potential.
Main Results:
- MTf knockdown inhibited cell surface plasminogen activation to plasmin by 58%.
- Decreased MTf expression reduced melanoma cell migration.
- In vivo, MTf-silenced cells showed a fivefold reduction in lung invasion.
Conclusions:
- MTf overexpression contributes to melanoma progression.
- MTf promotes tumor invasion by stimulating plasmin generation, cell migration, and metastasis.
