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NecroX-5 (NX-5) is a cell-permeable necrosis inhibitor with cytoprotective effects. Although it has been reported to inhibit lung and breast cancer metastasis by modulating migration, its therapeutic effect on melanoma metastasis is still unknown. In this study, we examined the anti-metastatic effect of NX-5 on melanoma cell lines and its related therapeutic mechanism. The anti-metastatic effect of NX-5 on melanoma cell lines was determined using a transwell migration assay. We performed a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis to measure changes in the expression of mRNA and protein, respectively, for major mediators of Rho-family GTPases after NX-5 treatment in melanoma cells. In addition, after constructing the 3D melanoma model, the expression of Rho-family GTPases was measured by immunohistochemistry. NX-5 (10 μM and 20 μM) treatment significantly reduced melanoma cell migration (p &lt, 0.01). Additionally, NX-5 (20 μM) treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA in melanoma cells compared with the untreated group (p &lt, 0.001 and p &lt, 0.05, respectively). Immunohistochemistry for our 3D melanoma model showed that Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA were constitutively expressed in the nuclei of melanoma cells of the untreated group, and NX-5 treatment decreased their expression. These results demonstrate that NX-5 can suppress melanoma metastasis by reducing the expression of Rho-family GTPases.

One of the most challenging objectives of 3D cell culture is the development of scaffolding materials with outstanding biocompatibility and favorable mechanical strength. In this study, we fabricated a novel nanofibrous scaffold composed of fish collagen (FC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) blends by using the electrospinning method. Nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and it was revealed that the diameter of nanofibers decreased as FC content was increased in the FC/PCL composite nanofibers. The cytocompatibility of the FC/PCL scaffolds was evaluated by SEM, WST-1 assay, confocal microscopy, western blot, and RT-PCR. It was found that the scaffolds not only facilitated the adhesion, spreading, protrusions, and proliferation of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), but also stimulated the expression of genes and proteins involved in cell adhesion and T-cell development. Thus, these results suggest that the FC/PCL composite nanofibrous scaffolds will be a useful model of 3D cell culture for TECs and may have wide applicability in the future for engineering tissues or organs.