title: Terrein: a new melanogenesis inhibitor and its mechanism.
abstract: Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite whose effects are almost unknown. In this study, we found for the first time that terrein has a strong hypopigmentary effect in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Treatment of Mel-Ab cells with terrein (10-100 microM) for 4 days significantly reduced melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, terrein at the same concentration also reduced tyrosinase activity. We then investigated whether terrein influences the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is required for tyrosinase expression. Terrein was found to induce sustained ERK activation and MITF down-regulation, and luciferase assays showed that terrein inhibits MITF promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the correlation between ERK pathway activation and a decreased MITF transcriptional level, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway, was applied before terrein treatment and found to abrogate the terrein-induced MITF attenuation. Terrein also reduced the tyrosinase protein level for at least 72 h. These results suggest that terrein reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, and that this is followed by MITF down-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University, 300 Gumi-Dong, Bundang-Gu, 463-707, Seongnam-Si, Kyoungki-Do, Korea.
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: D-S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: W-G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: I-J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.forename: D-H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: S-W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: I-D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: K-C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D010407:Penicillium / Q000737:chemistry; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C439087:terrein; D008156:Luciferases; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases