Identification of AP-2-regulated genes by macroarray profiling of gene expression in human A375P melanoma.

Transcription factor AP-2 is a negative regulator of metastasis. Its expression is down regulated with progression of melanoma cells to metastasis. In this study, we performed macroarray profiling of gene expression of human A375P melanoma cells and their derivatives with overexpression of AP-2 and dominant-negative AP-2. Such comprehensive analysis lead to an identification of genes such as MMP-2, E-cadherin, melanoma adhesion molecule, early growth response 1, fibroblast growth factor 3, ubiquitin C, histone deacetylase 3 and integrin alpha 5,7, beta 3,5 as regulated by AP-2. Whereas some of these are known as AP-2-regulated genes, the others are not so far. Thus the study reports for the first time identification of new genes regulated by AP-2 that may be involved in metastasis of melanoma.