A fully functional proopiomelanocortin/melanocortin-1 receptor system regulates the differentiation of human scalp hair follicle melanocytes.
Kauser, Sobia Thody, Anthony J. Schallreuter, Karin U. Gummer, C.L. Tobin, Desmond J.
Kauser, Sobia
Thody, Anthony J.
Schallreuter, Karin U.
Gummer, C.L.
Tobin, Desmond J.
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2005
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Abstract
The proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, ACTH and alpha-MSH, are the principal mediators of human skin pigmentation via their action at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC-1R). Recent data have demonstrated the existence of a functionally active beta-endorphin/mu-opiate receptor system in both epidermal and hair follicle melanocytes, whereby beta-endorphin can regulate melanogenesis, dendricity, and proliferation in these cells. However, a role for ACTH and alpha-MSH in the regulation of the human follicular pigmentary unit has not been determined. This study was designed to examine the involvement of ACTH and the alpha-MSH/MC-1R system in human follicular melanocyte biology. To address this question we employed RT-PCR and immunohisto/cytochemistry, and a functional role for these POMC peptides was assessed in follicular melanocyte cultures. Human scalp hair follicle melanocytes synthesized and processed POMC. ACTH and alpha-MSH in association with their processing enzymes and MC-1R are expressed in human follicular melanocytes at the message level in vitro and at the protein level both in situ and in vitro. The expression of the POMC/MC-1R receptor system was confined only to subpopulations of poorly and moderately differentiated melanocytes. In addition, functional studies revealed that ACTH and alpha-MSH are able to promote follicular melanocyte differentiation by up-regulating melanogenesis, dendricity, and proliferation in less differentiated melanocyte subpopulations. Thus, these findings suggest a role for these POMC peptides in regulating human hair follicle melanocyte differentiation.
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Kauser, S., Thody, A.J., Schallreuter, K.U. and Gummer, C.L. et al. (2005). A fully functional proopiomelanocortin/melanocortin-1 receptor system regulates the differentiation of human scalp hair follicle melanocytes. Endocrinology. Vol. 146, No. 2, pp. 532-543.
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