Abstract
Incidence and progression of skin cancer has progressively elevated in the last decades because of the increase in risk factors such as ultraviolet radiation. In addition, adiponectin exerts therapeutic effects against many types of tumors. Therefore, we aimed to investigate therapeutic effects of adiponectin on skin cancer and to study its effects on inflammation and tumor invasion in a mice model of skin cancer. Skin cancer was induced using 7,12-Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) and croton oil on the dorsal skin of mice. Skin samples were obtained for estimation of gene and protein expression of sulfatase-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9, heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), glypican-3 (GPC3), fascin, nuclear factor (NF)κB; protein kinase C (PKC) and syndecan-1. Part of the skin is immune stained with cytokeratin. Skin cancer-induced elevation in activity of sulfatase-2 and MMP9 enzymes leading to reduction in HSPGs. All these effects were ameliorated by adiponectin. Finally, treatment with adiponectin markedly attenuated skin cancer-induced elevation in the expression of PKC, NFκB, fascin and syndecan-1. In conclusion, besides its antioxidant activities, adiponectin produced therapeutic effects against skin cancer through increasing HSPGs and inhibition of both inflammatory and tumor invasion pathways.
Graphical abstract
Highlights
• Adiponectin exerts therapeutic effects against many types of tumors.
• Treatment of skin cancer mice with adiponectin increases HSPGs.
• Adiponectin inhibits both inflammatory and tumor invasion pathways.