Plectin Promotes Melanoma Tumor Formation by Regulation of Src Activity

Abstract Melanoma is malignant cancer characterized by high proliferation and aggressive metastasis. To address efficient treatment for melanoma, we should understand the molecular mechanisms for a proto-oncogene Src, which is highly activated and promotes cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and metastasis in melanoma. We recently identified plectin as the Src binding protein and regulates Src activity in osteoclasts. Plectin, a cytoskeleton regulatory protein, is focused as the candidates of biomarker of certain tumors because of higher expression and the candidate of anti-tumor reagents such as ruthenium pyridinecarbothioamide although the molecular mechanisms how plectin works in melanoma is unclear. In this study, we examined the pathological role in melanoma tumor formation. Depletion of plectin induced low density and sparce tumor formation by melanoma cells in vivo. In vitro experiment revealed that plectin deficient melanomas reduced cell proliferation and suppressed cell-to-cell adhesion. Because Src activity was reduced in plectin deficient melanomas, we examined the relationship between plectin and Src signaling. Src overexpression that restored Src activity rescued cell proliferation and cell-to-cell adhesion of plectin deficient melanomas. These results suggest that plectin is required for tumor formation by promoting cell proliferation and cell-to-cell adhesion via Src signaling activity in melanoma.