Syndecan-2 Regulates the Migratory Potential of Melanoma Cells

Abstract

Syndecan-2, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a critical mediator in the tumorigenesis of colon carcinoma cells. We explored the function of syndecan-2 in melanoma, one of the most invasive types of cancers, and found that the expression of this protein was elevated in tissue samples from both nevus and malignant human melanomas but not in melanocytes of the normal human skin tissues. Similarly, elevated syndecan-2 expression was observed in various melanoma cell lines. Overexpression of syndecan-2 enhanced migration and invasion of melanoma cells, whereas the opposite was observed when syndecan-2 levels were knocked down using small inhibitory RNAs. Syndecan-2 expression was enhanced by fibroblast growth factor-2, which is known to stimulate melanoma cell migration; however, ␣-melanocyte-stimulating hormone decreased syndecan-2 expression and melanoma cell migration and invasion in a melanin synthesis-independent manner. Furthermore, syndecan-2 overexpression rescued the migration defects induced by ␣-melanocyte-stimulating hormone treatment. Together, these data strongly suggest that syndecan-2 plays a crucial role in the migratory potential of melanoma cells.

Melanocortin 1 Receptor Regulates Melanoma Cell Migration by Controlling Syndecan-2 Expression

“…Materials and Antibodies-Monoclonal antibody to syndecan-2 was produced by AdipoGen Inc. (19). mAb to phosphotyrosine was purchased from Millipore (Billerica, MA).…”

“…, we showed that syndecan-2 controlled the migration of melanoma cells (19). Therefore, we explored whether syndecan-2 was involved in regulation of MC1R-mediated cell migration in melanoma cells.…”

“…Thus, syndecan-2 controls the migration of various types of cancer cells including different lines of colon cancer cells (16,17) and fibrosarcoma cells (18). Recently, we reported that the syndecan-2 level was increased in melanoma cells and that this increase critically affected the migratory potential of such cells (19).…”

AZT on telomerase activity and cell proliferation in HS 839.T melanoma cells

“…Melanoma develops from a malignant transformation of melanocytes, which undergo an uncontrolled growth and alterations in the nucleus 20,21 .…”

Sdc2 and Tbx16 regulate Fgf2-dependent epithelial cell morphogenesis in the ciliated organ of asymmetry

“…Sdc2 can physically interact with members of the FGF, VEGF and TGFβ superfamilies (Chen et al, 2004a;Chen et al, 2004b;Villena et al, 2003). In cell culture, Sdc2 has been implicated in tumorigenesis and microvascular angiogenesis through regulation of cell adhesion and cell migration (Fears et al, 2006;Lee et al, 2009;Noguer et al, 2009).…”