Differentiation-inducing and anti-proliferative activities of lupeol on canine melanoma cells.

Abstract

Canine melanoma is the most common oral malignant tumor reported in the field of veterinary medicine. We found that lupeol, a lupine triterpene, inhibited mouse melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing cell differentiation. In the present study, we examined the differentiation-inducing activities of lupeol on 4 canine melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. The induction of canine melanoma cell differentiation by lupeol was confirmed by evaluating some differentiation markers such as tyrosinase with real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, we transplanted canine melanoma cells into a severe combined immunodeficiency mouse, and studied the anti-progressive effects of lupeol on tumor tissue. The gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein-2, which are markers of pigment cell differentiation, was induced in 4 canine oral malignant melanoma cells by lupeol, and the agent markedly inhibited tumor progression in canine melanoma-bearing mice.

• Authors: Kikumi Ogihara, Yuko Naya, Yoshiharu Okamoto, Keishi Hata
• Journal: SpringerPlus (Springerplus) Vol. 3 Pg. 632 ( 2014) ISSN: 2193-1801 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 25392802 (Publication Type: Journal Article)