Increased expression of nerve growth factor receptor and neural endopeptidase in the lesional skin of melasma.
BACKGROUND
Characteristic clinical features of melasma are symmetry of hyperpigmentation and distribution related to trigeminal nerves, which suggest that the neural involvement could play a part in the pathogenic mechanisms of pigmentation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether some neuropeptides and neurotrophins and their receptors were associated with the pathogenesis of melasma.


METHODS
To investigate the involvement of neuronal system and neuropeptides in melasma, we examined the expression of nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) and neural endopeptidase (NEP) in melasma lesional and nonlesional skin. Skin biopsies were obtained from lesional and nonlesional facial skin of six Korean women with melasma. Confocal laser scanning microscopic examination and western blot were performed.


RESULTS
Melasma lesions showed markedly greater expression of NGFR and NEP than nonlesional skin.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that neuroactive molecules, including NGF, is one of the critical factors for the pathogenesis of melasma, which may directly affect the microenvironment around melanocytes through a NGFR immunoreactivity (NGFR-IR) nerve fiber pathway, and higher levels of NEP in melasma has an important role in regulation of melanogenesis.
Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea.
Hana
H
Bak
Hyun Ju
HJ
Lee
Sung-Eun
SE
Chang
Jee-Ho
JH
Choi
Myeung Nam
MN
Kim
Beom Joon
BJ
Kim
D015153:Blotting, Western; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008548:Melanosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D010450:Endopeptidases