title: Regulation of melanocyte apoptosis by Stathmin 1 expression.
abstract: Undesirable hyperpigmentation that can arise from increased melanocyte activity may be alleviated by targeting active melanocytes for apoptosis. The role of Stathmin 1 as an important regulator of microtubule dynamics is well documented. The current study examined the potential of Stathmin 1-targeting strategies in eliminating active melanocytes. A vector to overexpress Stathmin 1 and vectors to express three distinct small hairpin RNAs to knockdown Stathmin 1 expression in normal melanocytes were produced and in cell cultures acted accordingly. Both overexpression and knockdown of Stathmin 1 led to a marked increase in melanocyte apoptosis, as indicated by the accumulation of apoptotic cells and increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. Both up- and down-regulation of Stathmin 1 expression inhibited the activity of differentiated melanocytes, as indicated by decreases in both melanin production and tyrosinase activity. Taken together, these results indicate that hyperactive melanocytes can be inhibited by altering Stathmin 1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhongshan Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. zhangyan1981_2003@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Jiali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xianping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D050777:Stathmin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; C493995:STMN1 protein, human; D050777:Stathmin; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase