Piezo1 Activation Prevents Spheroid Formation by Malignant Melanoma SK-MEL-2 Cells

Abstract

Melanoma is a highly aggressive type of skin cancer produced through the malignant transformation of melanocytes, and it is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Clinically, melanoma has several stages associated with migration and invasion of the cells through the skin’s layers, the rapid spreading of cells and the formation of tumors in multiple organs. The main problem is the emergence of resistance in melanoma to the applied methods of treatment; thus, it is of primary importance to find more crucial signaling pathways that control the progression of this type of cancer and could be targeted to prevent melanoma spreading. Here, we uncover novel aspects of the role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in melanoma tumor formation. Using a combinative approach, we showed the functional expression of mechanosensitive Piezo1 channels in the aggressive human melanoma SK-MEL-2 cell line. We found that chemical activation of Piezo1 by its agonist, Yoda1, prevents melanoma spheroid formation; thus, Piezo1 could be a potential target for selective modulation aimed at the prevention of melanoma development.