title: Prostaglandin production by melanocytic cells and the effect of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone.
abstract: Prostaglandins are potent mediators of the inflammatory response and are also involved in cancer development. In this study, we show that human melanocytes and FM55 melanoma cells express cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and -2) and thus have the capability to produce prostaglandins. The FM55 cells produced predominantly PGE2 and PGF2alpha, whereas the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line produced mainly PGE2. The anti-inflammatory peptide, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), reduced prostaglandin production in FM55 and HaCaT cells and reversed the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in the former. These results indicate that melanocytes produce prostaglandins and that alpha-MSH, by inhibiting this response, may play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses in the skin.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. a.nicolaou@bradford.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Sian E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Estdale
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsatmali
authors.forename: Daniel Pascual
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thody
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000521:alpha-MSH; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases