[Expression of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone mRNA and its significance in human skin autografts].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the expression of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) mRNA in human medium thickness skin autografts and to investigate the role of alpha-MSH in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.


METHODS
The samples were from medium thickness skin autografts on neck of the patients after 1 year of surgery. The size of sample was about 1.0 cm X 0.5 cm. RT-PCR technique was performed to detect the expression of alpha-MSH mRNA in medium thickness skin autografts and normal skin respectively. Masson-Fontana stain technique was performed to detect the contents of melanin in medium thickness skin autografts and normal skin epidermis respectively.


RESULTS
The expression of alpha-MSH mRNA in medium thickness skin autografts was much stronger than that in control normal skin, showing statistically significant difference (P<0.01). The expression of alpha-MSH/beta2-microglobulin mRNA in normal skin of donor area was no statistically significant differences compared with normal skin around recipient area. The contents of melanin in medium thickness skin autografts epidermis obviously increased when compared with that of control normal skin. The expression of alpha-MSH mRNA was positive correlated with the contents of melanin in epidermis.


CONCLUSIONS
The above results indicate that the expression of alpha-MSH increases greater in medium thickness skin autografts than in control samples and was correlated with the pigmentation of skin autografts. Overexpression of alpha-MSH may play an important role in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.
Xue
Chunyu
C
Department of Plastic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, P.R. China. xcyfun@sina.com
Xing
Xin
X
Li
Li
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000521:alpha-MSH