Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights

Abstract The dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) represents a critical aspect of tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of the MMPs in SKCM. Thirteen SKCM cell lines and seven normal skin cell...

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Main Authors: Lingxia Wu, Chenxiaoxiao Liu, Weicai Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85887-2
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author Lingxia Wu
Chenxiaoxiao Liu
Weicai Hu
author_facet Lingxia Wu
Chenxiaoxiao Liu
Weicai Hu
author_sort Lingxia Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) represents a critical aspect of tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of the MMPs in SKCM. Thirteen SKCM cell lines and seven normal skin cell lines were cultured under standard conditions for experimental analyses. RNA and DNA were extracted, followed by RT-qPCR to assess MMP expression and promoter methylation analysis to determine methylation levels. Functional assays, including cell proliferation, colony formation, and wound healing, were conducted post-MMP7 knockdown using siRNA in A375 cells. Databases like GEPIA2, HPA, MEXPRESS, and miRNet were employed for expression, survival, methylation, and miRNA-mRNA network analyses. We investigated the expression and promoter methylation landscape of MMPs in SKCM cell lines, revealing significant (p-value < 0.05) up-regulation of MMP1, MMP7, MMP9, MMP10, MMP11, MMP12, MMP13, MMP14, and MMP25, alongside down-regulation of MMP2, MMP3, and MMP21. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated a significant (p-value < 0.05) inverse correlation between MMP expression levels and promoter methylation status, suggesting a potential regulatory role of DNA methylation in MMP dysregulation. Notably, MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 exhibited significant (p-value < 0.05) associations with the overall survival of SKCM patients, emphasizing their prognostic significance. Additionally, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis highlighted the significant (p-value < 0.05) diagnostic potential of MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 in distinguishing SKCM from normal individuals. Subsequent validation across multiple cohorts confirmed significant (p-value < 0.05) elevated MMP expression levels in SKCM tissues, particularly in advanced disease stages, further emphasizing their role in tumor progression. Furthermore, we elucidated potential regulatory pathways involving miR-22-3p, which targets MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 genes in SKCM. Our findings also revealed associations between MMP expression and immune modulation, drug sensitivity, and functional states of SKCM cells. Lastly, MMP7 knockdown in A375 cells significantly significant (p-value < 0.05) impacted several characteristics, including cell proliferation, colony formation, and wound healing. Our findings highlight the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 in SKCM. These MMPs could serve as biomarkers for early detection and targets for therapy. Future efforts should focus on preclinical and clinical validation to translate these insights into personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-72103666deaa4527bdbd9049493ed6702025-01-19T12:23:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-85887-2Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insightsLingxia Wu0Chenxiaoxiao Liu1Weicai Hu2Dermatology, Changzhi Second People’s HospitalThe First Clinical Institute, Zunyi Medical UniversityDermatology, Changzhi Second People’s HospitalAbstract The dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) represents a critical aspect of tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of the MMPs in SKCM. Thirteen SKCM cell lines and seven normal skin cell lines were cultured under standard conditions for experimental analyses. RNA and DNA were extracted, followed by RT-qPCR to assess MMP expression and promoter methylation analysis to determine methylation levels. Functional assays, including cell proliferation, colony formation, and wound healing, were conducted post-MMP7 knockdown using siRNA in A375 cells. Databases like GEPIA2, HPA, MEXPRESS, and miRNet were employed for expression, survival, methylation, and miRNA-mRNA network analyses. We investigated the expression and promoter methylation landscape of MMPs in SKCM cell lines, revealing significant (p-value < 0.05) up-regulation of MMP1, MMP7, MMP9, MMP10, MMP11, MMP12, MMP13, MMP14, and MMP25, alongside down-regulation of MMP2, MMP3, and MMP21. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated a significant (p-value < 0.05) inverse correlation between MMP expression levels and promoter methylation status, suggesting a potential regulatory role of DNA methylation in MMP dysregulation. Notably, MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 exhibited significant (p-value < 0.05) associations with the overall survival of SKCM patients, emphasizing their prognostic significance. Additionally, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis highlighted the significant (p-value < 0.05) diagnostic potential of MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 in distinguishing SKCM from normal individuals. Subsequent validation across multiple cohorts confirmed significant (p-value < 0.05) elevated MMP expression levels in SKCM tissues, particularly in advanced disease stages, further emphasizing their role in tumor progression. Furthermore, we elucidated potential regulatory pathways involving miR-22-3p, which targets MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 genes in SKCM. Our findings also revealed associations between MMP expression and immune modulation, drug sensitivity, and functional states of SKCM cells. Lastly, MMP7 knockdown in A375 cells significantly significant (p-value < 0.05) impacted several characteristics, including cell proliferation, colony formation, and wound healing. Our findings highlight the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of MMP7, MMP11, and MMP14 in SKCM. These MMPs could serve as biomarkers for early detection and targets for therapy. Future efforts should focus on preclinical and clinical validation to translate these insights into personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85887-2SKCMMMPsBiomarkerTreatmentPrognosis
spellingShingle Lingxia Wu
Chenxiaoxiao Liu
Weicai Hu
Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
Scientific Reports
SKCM
MMPs
Biomarker
Treatment
Prognosis
title Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
title_full Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
title_fullStr Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
title_short Comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic insights
title_sort comprehensive investigation of matrix metalloproteinases in skin cutaneous melanoma diagnostic prognostic and therapeutic insights
topic SKCM
MMPs
Biomarker
Treatment
Prognosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85887-2
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AT chenxiaoxiaoliu comprehensiveinvestigationofmatrixmetalloproteinasesinskincutaneousmelanomadiagnosticprognosticandtherapeuticinsights
AT weicaihu comprehensiveinvestigationofmatrixmetalloproteinasesinskincutaneousmelanomadiagnosticprognosticandtherapeuticinsights