Betulinic acid suppresses NGAL-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in melanoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Molecular Medicine

Background:

• Betulinic acid (BA) demonstrates antitumoral properties, including inhibition of proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.
• Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process in cancer metastasis.
• Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is implicated in inducing EMT, but BA's effect on this process is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of Betulinic acid (BA) on NGAL-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in melanoma cells.
• To determine if BA can reverse or inhibit the EMT process and associated invasive phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• A375 melanoma cells were treated with Betulinic acid (BA).
• Analysis included monitoring of epithelial and mesenchymal markers, cytoskeletal organization, and NGAL production.
• EMT was induced both endogenously and exogenously using NGAL.

Main Results:

• Betulinic acid (BA) downregulated mesenchymal markers and upregulated epithelial markers in A375 melanoma cells.
• BA inhibited cytoskeletal reorganization and limited endogenous NGAL production.
• BA suppressed NGAL-induced EMT and reduced the invasive cellular phenotype.

Conclusions:

• Betulinic acid (BA) interferes with EMT-associated changes in melanoma cells.
• BA antagonizes melanoma cell invasion by modulating EMT pathways.
• These findings suggest BA as a potential therapeutic agent against invasive melanoma.