ObjectiveTo observe the expression and transcription of MART-1 in human uveal melanoma cell lines 92-1, 92-2, Ocm3, Me1285, as well as the possible effect of methylation on its expression.MethodsThe cell lines 92-1, 92-2, Ocm3 and Mel285 were cultured routinely and tested for MART-1 expression at protein and mRNA level by FACS analysis, Western blot and RT-PCR respectively. Methylation status of the MART-1 promoter region in all the cell lines were checked by Southern blots of DNA digested with methylation sensitive restriction enzymes.ResultsAs observed in FACS analysis and Western blot, 92-1, 92-2 and Ocm3 were MART-1 positive cell lines while Me1285 was negative cell line. Consistent with protein analysis, 92-1 and Ocm3 cell lines showed MART-1 specific PCR products and there was no product in Me1285 cell line in RT-PCR. The MART-1 positive cell lines, 92-1, 92-2, and Ocm3 show methylation at the MspI/HpaⅡ site, and the NruⅠ sites of all positive cell lines are not methylated. The MART-1 negative cell line Mel285 shows hypermethylation at the NruⅠsite and the MspⅠ/HpaⅡ site is not methylated.ConclusionsMART-1 could be expressed in human uveal melanoma cell lines 92-1, 92-2 and Ocm3. The change of methylation status of MART-1 promoter may correlate with the transcription of MART-1.