Timp1 associates with β1-integrin and CD63 along melan-a melanocyte malignant transformation
Based on its importance and well-established role,
β1-integrin expression profile was first investigated in
our model by Western Blot.A differential migration
shift was observed in the bands corresponding to
β1-integrin along melanoma genesis (Figure 2A).Interestingly,metastatic 4C11+ melanoma cell line showed
higher proportion between high (around 120 kDa) and
low molecular mass bands (around 105 kDa) compared
to melan-a melanocytes,pre-malignant 4C cells and
non-metastatic 4C11- melanoma cell line (Figure 2A).
The high molecular mass band corresponds to the mature and highly glycosylated form of β1-integrin and
its increase in relation to the immature form (low molecular mass) is in agreement with the literature,since
β1-integrins may present aberrant glycosylation in
tumorigenic cells[22].