title: Induction of melanogenesis by rapamycin in human MNT-1 melanoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanogenesis is one of the characteristic parameters of differentiation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), such as wortmannin and LY294002, stimulate melanin production in mouse and in human melanoma cells, suggesting that PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) might be involved in the regulation of melanogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The involvement of the mTOR pathway in regulating melanogenesis was examined using human MNT-1 melanoma cells, and the effects of the potent inhibitor of mTOR, rapamycin, in the presence or absence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In cells treated with rapamycin, cell viability, melanin content, and tyrosinase (TYR) activity were measured and compared with untreated controls. Protein levels of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein (TYRP)-1, TYRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also analyzed by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In rapamycin-treated cells, the melanin content increased concomitantly with an elevation in TYR activity, which plays a major role in melanogenesis. There was also an up-regulation of TYR, TYRP-1, and MITF proteins. Combined treatment with rapamycin or wortmannin and α-MSH increased melanogenesis more strongly than α-MSH alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rapamycin-induced melanin formation may be mediated through the up-regulation of TYR protein and activity. Furthermore, rapamycin and wortmannin, inhibitors of mTOR and PI3K, respectively, have co-stimulatory effects with α-MSH in enhancing melanogenesis in melanocyte cells.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Sool
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hah
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae-Yeon
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Dong Hwa
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hwa Mi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jimi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jin Gu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chi Yeon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yoon