Effects of acitretin on the expression of signaling pathway-related genes in epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of acitretin on the expression of signaling pathway-related genes in an epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA expression levels of STAT3, cyclin D1 and p42/44MAPK were detected in a human epidermal carcinoma cell line A431 by RT-PCR. Their expressions at protein level were studied by Western blot. The expression levels were studied in cells treated with or without 10(-5) mol/L acitretin at different time intervals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Acitretin could significantly inhibit the expression of STAT3 and cyclin D1 mRNA in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The STAT3 and cyclin D1 protein expression levels were down-regulated. Acitretin could also down-regulate the p42/4MAPK mRNA expression. (2) After incubation with acitretin, the mRNA level of cyclin D1 cells was positively correlated with that of STAT3 (P < 0.05). The cyclin D1 protein level was also positively correlated with that of STAT3 (P < 0.05). However there was no correlation of mRNA levels between cyclin D1 and p42/44MAPK.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Regulation of the Jak/STAT3 signaling pathway may play an important role in the effect of acitretin on epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cells. The abnormal expression of STAT3 can be regarded as a prerequisite for acitretin treatment effect.</p>