Investigation of the antitumor effects of klotho protein in melanoma cells

The Klotho gene was first discovered in 1997 by Makato Kuro-o and his colleagues during a study conducted on mice, where it was identified as an anti-aging factor. This gene encodes two different forms of Klotho (KL) protein: one is membrane-bound, while the other (s-KL) is secreted into the circulation. Although KL protein is predominantly expressed in the distal tubules of the kidneys, it is also present in lower amounts in the brain, lungs, liver, ovaries, and other organs. s-KL might be available in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine. The level of s-KL protein decreases with aging and has been associated with several age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, osteoporosis, kidney failure, and chronic lung diseases. Increasing KL expression has shown promising potential for extending lifespan and improving the progression of these diseases. This thesis aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of recombinant human Klotho (hKL) protein on a human skin cancer cell line VMM917. The possible effects of hKL on melanoma were comprehensively examined through experiments using various hKL concentrations, MTT cytotoxicity assay, cell cycle analysis, and qPCR analysis of gene expression levels involved in melonama development. As a result, it was determined that the VMM917 cell line exhibited resistance to hKL protein.