Participation of the Melanocortin-1 Receptor in the UV Control of Pigmentation

The cloning of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene from human melanocytes and the demonstration that these cells respond to the melanocortins α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) with increased proliferation and melanogenesis have renewed the interest in investigation the physiological role of these hormones in regulating human pigmentation. α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone and ACTH are both synthesized in the human epidermis, and their synthesis is upregulated by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Activation of the MC1R by ligand binding results in stimulation of cAMP formation, which is a principal mechanism for inducing melanogenesis. The increase in cAMP is required for the pigmentary response of human melanocytes to UVR, and for allowing them to overcome the UVR-induced G1 arrest. Treatment of human melanocytes with α-MSH increases eumelanin synthesis, an effect that is expected to enhance photoprotection of the skin. Population studies have revealed more than 20 allelic variants of the MC1R gene. Some of these variants are overexpressed in individuals with skin type I or II, red hair, and poor tanning ability. Future studies will aim at further exploration of the role of these variants in MC1R function, and in determining constitutive human pigmentation, the response to sun exposure, and possibly the susceptibility to skin cancer

REGULATION OF PHENOTYPIC EXPRESSION AND PROLIFERATION OF S91 MELANOMA CELLS BY POTENT HORMONE ANALOGUES.

Cloudman S91 melanoma cells respond to a variety of endocrine factors, including melanotropins and steroid hormones. The murine S91 melanoma cell line, CCL 53.1, responded to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in a dose- and a time-dependent manner, by increased tyrosinase activity. The minimal effective dose of α-MSH required to stimulate tyrosinase activity was 10⁻⁹M. By prolonging the exposure period of the cells to the hormone from 24 to 48, to 72 hours, the magnitude of tyrosinase stimulation was increased, but the minimal effective dose was not changed. α-MSH action involved elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, and did not require the influx of extracellular calcium. Three melanotropin analogues, [Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷]-α-MSH, Ac-[Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷]-α-MSH₄₋₁₁-NH₂, and Ac-[Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷]- α-MSH₄₋₁₀-NH₂, have been shown to be more active than (alpha)-MSH in dispersing melanosomes within amphibian and reptilian integumental melanophores. These analogues also demonstrate prolonged activities and resistance to enzymatic degradation. The unique properties of these melanotropin analogues led to investigate their effects on the phenotypic expression and on the proliferation of S91 melanoma cells. The relative potency and the possible prolonged actions of the three [Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷] -substituted analogues were investigated and compared to those of α-MSH. The melanotropin analogues proved to be 100-1000 fold more active than α-MSH in stimulating tyrosinase activity. These analogues elicited significant tyrosinase activation following brief contact times with the cells, and maintained their stimulatory effects for days after removal from the culture flasks, and after the α-MSH effect had totally dissipated. Contrary to previous reports that melanotropins inhibit the proliferation of melanoma cells, α-MSH and [Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷] -α-MSH stimulated, rather than inhibited, the proliferation of CCL cells under culture conditions that allowed optimal phenotypic expression. Also, the effects of the steroids, β-estradiol, progesterone, and dexamethasone, on CCL cells were studied. Dexamethasone had the most remarkable effects, which involved stimulation of tyrosinase activity and inhibition of proliferation in monolayer culture and in soft agar. Furthermore, this study defined some of the factors that influence the endocrine responsiveness of melanoma cells. The results of this study have important implications for the regulation of phenotypic expression and of proliferation in S91 melanoma cells, and for the properties of the melanoma melanotropin receptor

The effects of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, corticosterone, cholecaliferol on growth and melanogenesis of S91 mouse melanoma cells in vitro

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Significance of the Melanocortin 1 and Endothelin B Receptors in Melanocyte Homeostasis and Prevention of Sun-Induced Genotoxicity

The membrane bound melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), and the endothelin B receptor (ENDBR) are two G-protein coupled receptors that play important roles in constitutive regulation of melanocytes and their response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the main etiological factor for melanoma. The human MC1R is a Gs protein-coupled receptor, which is activated by its agonists α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-melanocortin; α-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The ENDBR is a Gq coupled-receptor, which is activated by Endothelin (ET)-3 during embryonic development, and ET-1 postnatally. Pigmentation and the DNA repair capacity are two major factors that determine the risk for melanoma. Activation of the MC1R by its agonists stimulates the synthesis of eumelanin, the dark brown photoprotective pigment. In vitro studies showed that α-MSH and ET-1 interact synergistically in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to stimulate human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis, and to inhibit UVR-induced apoptosis. An important function of the MC1R is reduction of oxidative stress and activation of DNA repair pathways. The human MC1R is highly polymorphic, and MC1R variants, particularly those that cause loss of function of the expressed receptor, are associated with increased melanoma risk independently of pigmentation. These variants compromise the DNA repair and antioxidant capacities of human melanocytes. Recently, activation of ENDBR by ET-1 was reported to reduce the induction and enhance the repair of UVR-induced DNA photoproducts. We conclude that α-MSH and ET-1 and their cognate receptors MC1R and ENDBR reduce the risk for melanoma by maintaining genomic stability of melanocytes via modulating the DNA damage response to solar UVR. Elucidating the response of melanocytes to UVR should improve our understanding of the process of melanomagenesis, and lead to effective melanoma chemoprevention, as well as therapeutic strategies

MC1R: Front and Center in the Bright Side of Dark Eumelanin and DNA Repair

Melanin, the pigment produced by specialized cells, melanocytes, is responsible for skin and hair color. Skin pigmentation is an important protective mechanism against the DNA damaging and mutagenic effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UV). It is acknowledged that exposure to UV is the main etiological environmental factor for all forms of skin cancer, including melanoma. DNA repair capacity is another major factor that determines the risk for skin cancer. Human melanocytes synthesize eumelanin, the dark brown form of melanin, as well as pheomelanin, which is reddish-yellow in color. The relative rates of eumelanin and pheomelanin synthesis by melanocytes determine skin color and the sensitivity of skin to the drastic effects of solar UV. Understanding the complex regulation of melanocyte function and how it responds to solar UV has a huge impact on developing novel photoprotective strategies to prevent skin cancer, particularly melanoma, the most fatal form, which originates from melanocytes. This review provides an overview of the known differences in the photoprotective effects of eumelanin versus pheomelanin, how these two forms of melanin are regulated genetically and biochemically, and their impact on the DNA damaging effects of UV exposure. Additionally, this review briefly discusses the role of paracrine factors, focusing on α-melanocortin (α-melanocyte stimulating hormone; α-MSH), in regulating melanogenesis and the response of melanocytes to UV, and describes a chemoprevention strategy based on targeting the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) by analogs of its physiological agonist α-MSH

Suppression Of Mapk Signaling In Braf-Activated Pten-Deficient Melanoma By Blocking Β-Catenin Signaling In Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment have been associated with formation of a dynamic and optimized niche for tumor cells to grow and evade cell death induced by therapeutic agents. We recently reported that ablation of β-catenin expression in stromal fibroblasts and CAFs disrupted their biological activities in in vitro studies and in an in vivo B16F10 mouse melanoma model. Here, we show that the development of a BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient mouse melanoma was significantly suppressed in vivo after blocking β-catenin signaling in CAFs. Further analysis revealed that expression of phospho-Erk1/2 and phospho-Akt was greatly reduced, effectively abrogating the activating effects and abnormal cell cycle progression induced by Braf and Pten mutations. In addition, the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like process was also suppressed in melanoma cells. Taken together, our data highlight an important crosstalk between CAFs and the RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade in BRAF-activated melanoma and may offer a new approach to abrogate host-dependent drug resistance in targeted therapy