A possible role for cysteine proteinase and its inhibitors in motility of malignant melanoma and other tumour cells.

Abstract

The metastasis of malignant tumour cells depends on their rapid replication, and their ability to adhere to the matrix of a biological barrier such as basement membrane, to degrade the matrix, and to migrate through this more permeable barrier. Secreted enzymes, including the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L, are known to degrade basement membrane components. Using a barrier-free substratum we studied the possible role of cysteine proteinases in influencing the motility per se of metastatic cells. We found that stefins, the natural inhibitors of cysteine proteinases, markedly decreased the stimulated motility of both human melanoma cells and W256 carcinosarcoma cells at low concentrations (0.5 microM). A stefin also inhibited melanoma cell adherence, but to a lesser extent than motility. Additionally, synthetic inhibitors (E-64, diazomethyl ketones) of cysteine proteinases were found to depress stimulated motility of W256 cells. These results suggest that cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors may have a direct role in the development of a migratory response per se in tumour cells.

• Authors: G Boike, T Lah, B F Sloane, J Rozhin, K Honn, R Guirguis, M L Stracke, L A Liotta, E Schiffmann
• Journal: Melanoma research (Melanoma Res) 1992 Jan-Feb Vol. 1 Issue 5-6 Pg. 333-40 ISSN: 0960-8931 [Print] England
• PMID: 1422189 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CSTB protein, human
• Cystatin A
• Cystatins
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins
• Neoplasm Proteins
• CSTA protein, human
• Cystatin B
• Cathepsins
• Endopeptidases
• Cysteine Endopeptidases
• Cathepsin B
• CTSL protein, human
• Cathepsin L

Topics

• Animals
• Carcinoma 256, Walker (enzymology, pathology)
• Cathepsin B (antagonists & inhibitors, physiology)
• Cathepsin L
• Cathepsins (antagonists & inhibitors, physiology)
• Cell Adhesion (drug effects)
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cystatin A
• Cystatin B
• Cystatins (pharmacology)
• Cysteine Endopeptidases
• Endopeptidases
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Melanoma (enzymology, pathology)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, physiology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (pathology)