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Objective: To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid on the proliferation of and Fas protein expression in malignant melanoma A375 cells in vitro., Methods: Malignant melanoma A375 cells cultured under different doses of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and solvent controls. The effect of ATRA on cell proliferation was observed. The growth rate of the cells was detected by MTT assay. The Fas protein expression was detected by Western blotting., Results: ATRA inhibited the proliferation of A375 cells under 1-100 micromol/L of concentrations. The peak effect occurred after 72 hours of ATRA treatment, ATRA inhibited the growth of A375 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The level of Fas protein was up-regulated after exposure to 10 micromol/L of ATRA., Conclusion: ATRA inhibits A375 cell proliferation perhaps through Fas death receptor pathway which induces A375 cell apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate the expression of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) in normal human skin and squamous cell carcinoma and analyze its relation with the tumorigenesis and development of squamous cell carcinoma., Methods: The expression of CB2 protein and mRNA levels were detected in normal human skin and squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR., Results: Both the normal skin and squamous cell carcinoma expressed CB2, which was localized mainly in the basal cell layer and prickle cell layer in human skin with low expressions in the subcutaneous tissue. The expression intensity of CB2 differed significantly between squamous cell carcinoma and normal human skin (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma over-expresses CB2 at both the protein and mRNA levels. High expression of CB2 in squamous cell carcinoma suggests an important role of CB2 in the tumorigenesis and development of squamous cell carcinoma.