Effect of daunomycin on expression of CD44H protein in HTB140 melanoma cells in vitro.

CD44H is a transmembrane protein involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. In melanoma cells CD44H influences motility and invasiveness. Daunomycin (daunorubicin) is an anthracycline antibiotic, capable to inducing apoptosis in many cell lines. The data presented in this report show that 12-hours treatment with clinically applied concentration of daunomycin led to apoptotic death of a portion of the investigated melanoma cell population. Surviving cells showed random distribution of CD44H and decreased expression of the protein on the cell surface, but no cell blebbing or changes in nuclei. Hypothetical mechanisms concerning a role of CD44H in induction of apoptosis are discussed.