Hypoxia: dual effect on the expression of transferrin receptor in human melanoma A375 cell line

Over-expression of transferrin receptor (TfR) is a common feature of human malignancies. Therapeutic strategies designed to interfere with tumor iron metabolism have targeted TfR. In previous studies, our laboratory successfully constructed the human-mouse chimeric antibody against TfR and it displayed a tumor-specificity distribution, and has a strong anti-tumor effect. We also found that there were still some limitations to anti-tumor effect in vivo. Oxygen and iron have a very tight relationship, and hypoxia is considered a fundamentally important characteristic of the tumor microenvironment. To exploit the target molecule TfR more rationally and effectively, we were prompted to explore TfR expression under hypoxia.

To examine the expressing alteration of TfR of human melanoma A375 cell line under hypoxia at various time points (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h).

The expressing alteration of TfR of A375 cell line under hypoxia at various time points (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h) was assayed by flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

Hypoxia has dual effect on the expression of TfR in human melanoma A375 cell line.

These findings may have important implications for more rational, individualized gene-based therapy using TfR as target receptor in melanoma.