title: Beta-lactoglobulin suppresses melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes.
abstract: The effects of whey proteins from bovine milk on melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes were examined. Among the major protein components of milk whey including beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), alpha-lactalbumin, serum albumin, and IgG, only BLG exhibited the depigmenting effect at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Also, BLG suppressed the activity of tyrosinase in these cells. Retinol, to which BLG is known to bind, slightly increased the pigmentation of the cells at concentrations in the range of 1-100 nM, and retinoic acid, a metabolite of retinol, exhibited a strong pigmentation-promoting effect within the same concentration range. Treatment of the cells with 1 mg/ml BLG completely abrogated the pigmentation induced by these A vitamins. These results demonstrate a novel biological activity of BLG and suggest that this activity is dependent on its ability to bind retinol.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Science Laboratory, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikogami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuwatari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayasawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007782:Lactoglobulins; D008543:Melanins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase