The Role of c-Jun Signaling in Cytidine Analog-Induced Cell Death in Melanoma

Melanoma stands as an increasingly pressing health concern. Enhanced mitochondrial metabolism has been reported in melanoma cells that survived treatment with traditional therapeutics, including cytidine analogs like gemcitabine (GEM). These findings suggest that chemotherapeutic drugs may play dual roles in promoting both cell survival and cell death, although the underlying mechanisms require further investigation. Herein, we conducted proteomics analysis on GEM-treated melanoma cells and found a drug-induced activation of DNA damage response and apoptosis, along with cell cycle arrest. Additionally, GEM treatment significantly altered protein networks related to mitochondrial ribosomal activity, the electron transport chain, and translation. Furthermore, we reported an upregulation of the JNK/c-Jun network in connection with the apoptotic proteins. Co-treatment with a Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) inhibitor, JNK-IN-8 (JNKi), significantly increased cell survival, suggesting the involvement of c-Jun signaling in GEM-induced cell death. Additionally, proteomics analysis revealed that JNKi downregulated apoptosis in co-treated cells, highlighting the potential role of the JNK/c-Jun network inhibition in chemotherapeutic tolerance. Collectively, our findings bridge gaps in understanding how melanoma cells respond to cytidine analogs by demonstrating the multifaceted effects of these agents in 1) inducing JNK-mediated apoptotic cell death, and 2) promoting a state of cell cycle inhibition.