Impact of extracellular vesicles derived from melanoma in keratinocyte metabolism

• Grant number: 21/13729-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira
• Grantee: Sophia Nora Baptista
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Melanomas are extremely aggressive tumors that originate from mutations in melanocytes. The high metastatic potential of melanomas is the main obstacle to treatment efficacy. Recently, several studies have increasingly pointed to the relevant role played by the microenvironment in various processes associated with tumor development and progression. Among the components of the tumor microenvironment, keratinocytes and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) seem to be directly involved in melanoma development and progression. Keratinocytes are keratin-producing epidermal cells, which establish an intricate communication network with melanocytes located in the basal layer of the epidermis. This communication allows the regulation of several signaling pathways in melanocytes. sEVs, on the other hand, are small particles produced by different types of cells, capable of carrying molecules of different types and that play an essential role in cell-cell communication. Recent studies suggest the involvement of these vesicles in the modulation of metabolic pathways of cells in the tumor microenvironment which culminates in reprogramming target cells, a process known as tumor education. In the present project, we propose to study the role of sEVs derived from melanoma cells (Skmel-28 and Skmel-103) in the keratinocyte's regulation of glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism. The understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in the education of keratinocytes by the vesicles may provide support for the establishment of rational strategies for the treatment of melanoma.(AU)