Drugs that inhibit the activity of the immune system protein – gamma interferon block the development of melanoma – a dangerous skin cancer – according to US scientists in the journal Nature.
Exposure to ultraviolet light and radiation are the two main causes of the development of melanoma – the most malignant skin cancer. Unfortunately, until now the molecular mechanisms of the development of this cancer have not been fully understood.
Glenn Merlino and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda studied the effects of UVB radiation in mice. Scientists have shown that UVB causes macrophages to flow into the skin. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell, cells that produce interferon gamma, a protein that chemical signals the development of melanoma.
Inhibition of the activity of interferon gamma (i.e. interferon type II) with the help of appropriate antibodies inhibits the abnormal growth of skin cells and cancer development, inhibition of interferon I activity has no such effect.
Type I interferons are recognized as anti-cancer proteins and one of them, interferon alpha, is used to treat melanoma. The discovery that gamma interferon has the opposite effect and promotes cancer development is surprising. Inhibition of gamma interferon or the proteins it affects appears to be a good target for melanoma therapy. (PAP)