Effects of the fatty synthesis blockage on the integrin and matrix metalloproteases expression in mouse melanoma

Author(s)

Marco Antonio Carvalho

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba
• Defense date: 2010-02-12

Examining board members

Edgard Graner; Ademar Takahama Junior; Cláudia Aparecida Rainho; Jacks Jorge Junior; Márcio Ajudarte Lopes

• Advisor: Edgard Graner

Abstract

Malignant melanoma has poor prognosis due to its high metastatic potential and resistance to the existing chemotherapeutic agents. Fatty acid synthase (FASN, EC2.3.1.58) is a metabolic enzyme with molecular mass of 250 kDa responsible for the endogenous biosynthesis of saturated long chain fatty acids. FASN activity is relatively low in most normal human tissues, since most of the fatty acids used by the cells come from the diet, except in liver, adipose tissue, fetal lung and lacting breast. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that in several cultured malignant cells fatty acids are mostly produced by FASN. A similar phenomenon is also observed in melanoma cells and overexpression of FASN has been associated with a poor prognosis for patients with this malignancy. Specific inhibitors of FASN activity block DNA synthesis and cause apoptosis in prostate, breast, colon, stomach, endometrial, oral cavity, ovary and melanoma cancer cells lines. Orlistat (Xenical®), approved for FDA and used for the treatment of obesity, has antitumor properties in prostate, breast, colon, gastric cancers and melanoma, due to its capacity to block the FASN activity. This work had as main objectives to study the effect of orlistat on the expression and activity of MMPs and expression of integrins in B16F10 cells, as well as on the adhesion of these cells to ECM macromolecules fibronectin and laminin. Moreover, we sought to verify the effect of this drug on the lung colonization by B16F10 innoculated in the tail vein of C57BL6 mice. The treatment with orlistat did not change MMP-2 and -9 gelatinolytic activities in B16F10 cells and enhanced the adhesion of these cells on laminin or fibronectin. Interestingly, treatment of B16F10 cells with orlistat promoted a reduction on the number of integrin ?v?3 focal adhesion plates observed in the immunofluorescence assay. Finally, orlistat promoted an inhibition of 53,6% in the number of lung metastatic foci, in comparison with the control groups, further confirming the anticancer potential of FASN inhibitors. Finally, the results here described suggest that FASN is a therapeutical target in potential for these tumors. (AU)