Thymosin β4 Regulates Focal Adhesion Formation in Human Melanoma Cells and Affects Their Migration and Invasion.

Makowiecka A, Malek N, Mazurkiewicz E, Mrówczyńska E, Nowak D, Mazur AJ

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology23 Dec 2019Cited by 34 (Europe PMC)

PMID31921836PMCIDPMC6935720DOI10.3389/fcell.2019.00304PepBankPUB-31921836

Summary

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a multifunctional 44-amino acid polypeptide and a member of actin-binding proteins (ABPs), plays an important role in developmental processes and wound healing. In recent years an increasing number of data has been published suggesting Tβ4's involvement in tumorigenesis. However, Tβ4's role in melanoma tumor development still remains to be elucidated. In our study we demonstrate that Tβ4 is crucial for melanoma adhesion and invasion. For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential. Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression. We found out that Tβ4 is not only a component of focal adhesions (FAs) and interacts with several FAs components but also regulates FAs formation. We demonstrate that Tβ4 level has an impact on FAs' number and morphology. Moreover, manipulation with TMSB4X expression resulted in changes in cells' motility on non-coated and Matrigel^TM (resembling basement membrane composition)-coated surfaces and drastically decreased invasion abilities of the cells. Additionally, a correlation between Tβ4 expression level and exhibition of mesenchymal-like [epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)] features was discovered. Cells with lowered TMSB4X expression were less EMT-progressed than control cells. Summarizing, obtained results show that Tβ4 by regulating melanoma cells' adhesion has an impact on motility features and EMT. Our study not only contributes to a better understanding of the processes underlying melanoma cells' capacity to create metastases but also highlights Tβ4 as a potential target for melanoma management therapy.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).

01LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human melanoma cells, the Tβ4 level affected the number and morphology of focal adhesions.
In plain wordsIn cells, the level of Tβ4 changed how many focal adhesions melanoma cells had and what they looked like.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedFocal adhesion number and morphology
Study
humann: not reported in source
human melanoma cell lines
Outcome group
Cancer cell invasion and metastasis · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
We demonstrate that Tβ4 level has an impact on FAs' number and morphology.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential.
Summary · context
Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3192183601
02LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human melanoma cells, silencing of TMSB4X (the Tβ4 gene) strongly decreased the invasion ability of the cells.
In plain wordsIn cells, switching off the Tβ4 gene strongly reduced how well melanoma cells invaded.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCell invasion after TMSB4X silencing
Study
humann: not reported in source
human melanoma cell lines
Outcome group
Cancer cell invasion and metastasis · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Moreover, manipulation with TMSB4X expression resulted in changes in cells' motility on non-coated and Matrigel^TM (resembling basement membrane composition)-coated surfaces and drastically decreased invasion abilities of the cells.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential.
Summary · context
Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3192183602
03LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human melanoma cells, manipulation of TMSB4X expression changed cell motility on non-coated and Matrigel-coated surfaces.
In plain wordsIn cells, changing Tβ4 gene activity changed how melanoma cells moved on coated and uncoated surfaces.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Direction not reportedCell motility after TMSB4X manipulation
Study
humann: not reported in source
human melanoma cell lines
Outcome group
Cancer cell invasion and metastasis · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Moreover, manipulation with TMSB4X expression resulted in changes in cells' motility on non-coated and Matrigel^TM (resembling basement membrane composition)-coated surfaces and drastically decreased invasion abilities of the cells.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential.
Summary · context
Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3192183603
04LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human melanoma cells, cells with lowered TMSB4X expression were less EMT-progressed than control cells.
In plain wordsIn cells, melanoma cells with less Tβ4 gene activity showed fewer EMT features than control cells.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseEMT progression after TMSB4X silencing
Study
humann: not reported in source
human melanoma cell lines
Comparator
Control cells
Outcome group
Cancer cell invasion and metastasis · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Cells with lowered TMSB4X expression were less EMT-progressed than control cells.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
For the purpose of our research we tested melanoma cell lines differing in invasive potential.
Summary · context
Moreover, we applied shRNAs to silence TMSB4X (gene encoding Tβ4) expression in a cell line with high TMSB4X expression.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3192183604
05LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human melanoma cells, Tβ4 was a component of focal adhesions and interacted with several focal adhesion components.
In plain wordsIn cells, Tβ4 was found inside focal adhesions and interacted with several of their parts.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableTβ4 as a component of focal adhesions and its interaction with focal adhesion components
Study
humann: not reported in source
human melanoma cell lines
Outcome group
Cancer cell invasion and metastasis · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
We found out that Tβ4 is not only a component of focal adhesions (FAs) and interacts with several FAs components but also regulates FAs formation.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3192183605

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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