Elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) as a potential pro-malignancy factor in human leukemia cell lines

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is currently considered to be an important factor influencing the migration and progression of cancer cells. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the mechanism of action of elastin-derived peptides in cancerous cells derived from the immunological system, i.e., HL-60, K562, and MEG-A2 cell lines. Moreover, an attempt to clarify the involvement of c-SRC kinase in EDP mechanism of action was also undertaken. Our data show that the VGVAPG and VVGPGA peptides are not toxic in the studied cell lines. Moreover, due to the involvement of KI67 and PCNA proteins in the cell cycle and proliferation, we can assume that neither peptide stimulates cell proliferation. Our data suggest that both peptides could initiate the differentiation process in all the studied cell lines. However, due to the different origins (HL-60 and K562-leukemic cell line vs. MEG-A2-megakaryoblastic origin) of the cell lines, the mechanism may differ. The increase in the ELANE mRNA expression noted in our experiments may also suggest enhancement of the migration of the tested cells. However, more research is needed to fully explain the mechanism of action of the VGVAPG and VVGPGA peptides in the HL-60, K562, and MEG-A2 cell lines. HIGHLIGHTS: • VGVAPG and VVGPGA peptides do not affect the metabolic activity of HL-60, K562, and MEG-A2 cells. • mTOR and PPARγ proteins are involved in the mechanism of action of VGVAPG and VVGPGA peptides. • Both peptides may initiate differentiation in HL-60, K562, and MEG-A2 cell lines.