[Correlation of the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor and melanin contents in human skin autografts].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC-1R) and the melanin contents in human skin autografts and the normal skin, to elucide the role of MC-1R in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.


METHODS
Skin autografts and normal skin samples were obtained from skin graft on neck who need reoperation to release contractures after 1 year of operations. Immunohistochemical technique was performed to detect the expression and distribution of MC-1R in skin autografts (include full thickenss skin autografts, medium thickness skin autografts, and razor-thin skin autografts) and normal skin respectively. Masson-Fontana staining technique was performed to detect the melanin contents in all sorts specimens respectively.


RESULTS
The expression of MC-1R was located on cell membrane and cytoplasm of melanocyte and keratinocyte in epidermal. The expression of MC-1R in most skin autografts was much stronger than that of control normal skins; the thinner skin autografts were, the more obvious expressions of MC-1R in skin autografts were. The expressions of MC-1R in all sorts of skin autografts were of significant differences compared with that in normal skins(P<0.01); the expression of MC-1R in normal skin of donor area was no significant differences compared with normal skin around recipient area (P>0.01). The contents of melanin in skin autografts were increased obviously and there were significant differences compared with that in normal skins (P<0.01); the contents of melanin among all sorts of skin autografts were of significant differences (P<0.01). The thinner skin autografts were, the more melanin contents in skin autografts. The expression of MC-1R was positively correlated with the contents of melanin in epidermis.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of MC-1R in skin autografts is significantly higher than that in normal skin and is correlated positively with the contents of melanin in skin autografts. Overexpression of MC-1R 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, PR China. xcyfun@sina.com
Xing
Xin
X
Li
Li
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult
D008543:Melanins; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1