Additive effects of heat and p38 MAPK inhibitor treatment on melanin synthesis.
It has been reported that the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) reduces melanin synthesis. Recently, we also found that heat treatment induces ERK activation and inhibits melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells (a mouse melanocyte cell line). In addition, it was reported that p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) inhibition blocks melanogenesis. Thus, we investigated the effects of heat and of the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, on melanogenesis. In this study, we found that heat treatment activates ERK and reduces melanin production in human melanocytes, and that this is accompanied by a reduction in tyrosinase activity. To regulate the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways simultaneously, we combined heat treatment and SB203580 and measured melanin synthesis. The results obtained showed that heat treatment and SB203580 reduced melanin synthesis more effectively than heat or SB203580 alone. We conclude that ERK activation and p38 MAPK inhibition can work in an additive manner to decrease melanogenesis.
Kim
Dong-Seok
DS
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
Park
Seo-Hyoung
SH
Kwon
Sun-Bang
SB
Na
Jung-Im
JI
Huh
Chang-Hun
CH
Park
Kyoung-Chan
KC
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008543:Melanins; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases