Gene transfer of pro-opiomelanocortin prohormone suppressed the growth and metastasis of melanoma: Involvement of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-mediated inhibition of the nuclear factor κB/cyclooxygenase-2 pathway

Abstract

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a prohormone of various neuropeptides, including corticotropin, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and β-endorphin (β-EP). POMC neuropeptides are potent inflammation inhibitors and immunosuppressants and may exert opposite influences during tumorigenesis. However, the role of POMC expression in carcinogenesis remains elusive. We evaluated the antineoplastic potential of POMC gene delivery in a syngenic B16-F10 melanoma model. Adenovirus-mediated POMC gene delivery in B16-F10 cells increased the release of POMC neuropeptides in cultured media, which differentially regulated the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in lymphocytes. POMC gene tr..