12-Lipoxygenase Expression in Human Melanoma Cell Lines

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Abstract
12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) expression and function in the regulation of the metastatic phenotype was demonstrated in several murine melanoma lines before. Here we have provided novel evidences that, though at a low level (in max. 15% of the cell population), human melanoma lines (HT168, Ml, HT199, HT18 and WM35) express the platelet-type isoform of 12-LOX both at mRNA and protein levels. 12-LOX expression was demonstrated in cultured tumor cells and in skin tumor xenografts. Comparison of the expression of 12-LOX in skin primary tumors and its lung metastases indicated a stable expression. The low level of 12-LOX expression in human melanoma cell lines suggests that other lipoxygenase(s) could also be responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid to 12-HETE breakdown products.