Envolvimento da proteína SOX3 na transição epitélio-mesênquima (TEM) em linhagem celular de melanoma humano

Abstract

Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, characterized by rapid progression and extensive metastatic spread. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in increasing melanoma invasion and metastasis, and SOX family protein may be involved in this process. This study investigates the role of the transcription factor SOX3 in EMT in human melanoma cells. For this, the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 was subjected to transfection with a SOX3 expression vector to evaluate the impact of expression on EMT markers, cell viability, and cell migration. Assays using the MTT method revealed that SOX3 expression did not affect cell viability. Gene expression analysis assessed by qPCR demonstrated downregulation of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, and upregulation of Snail in cells with higher expression of SOX3. Furthermore, in wound healing assays, SOX3 expression reduced the migration of SK-MEL-28 cells at all evaluated time points. The findings of this study suggest a potential role of the SOX3 protein in regulating the EMT in melanoma. It has been observed that SOX3 has the potential to regulate genes associated with this phenomenon, thereby elucidating the involvement of SOX3 in the progression of melanoma and providing insights into potential therapeutic targets to combat this aggressive cancer.