Tissue transglutaminase activity protects from cutaneous melanoma metastatic dissemination: an in vivo study

Amino Acids. 2013 Jan;44(1):53-61. doi: 10.1007/s00726-012-1351-6. Epub 2012 Jul 11.

Abstract

The role of tissue transglutaminase (TG-2, TGase-2) in cancer development is still a fascinating field of research. The available reports do not elucidate fully its mechanism of action, due to the limitations of in vitro approaches. Therefore, to understand TG-2 role in cancer, we carried out an in vivo study with a more direct approach. TG-2 was in vivo overexpressed in a murine model of melanoma (intravenous injection of B16 melanoma cells in C57BL/6N mice) by means of a plasmid carrying the TG-2 cDNA. The evaluation of the frequency and size of the metastases indicated that the number of melanoma lung foci was more markedly reduced by TG-2 overexpression than the metastatic size. Then, TG-2 overexpressing mice showed a prolonged survival with respect to control mice. Further analyses were carried by means of proteomic analysis of melanoma cell lysates and meta-analysis of published transcriptomic datasets. Proteomic analysis of cell lysates from a human melanoma cell line compared to human keratinocytes showed significant differences in the expression of TG-2 substrates known to be involved in proliferation/differentiation and cancer progression. Taken together, these findings indicate a protective role of TG-2 enzymatic activity in melanoma progression in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Melanoma, Experimental / enzymology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Transglutaminases / genetics
  • Transglutaminases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Proteome
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • Transglutaminases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins