title: Effects of fibroblast-derived factors on the proliferation and differentiation of human melanocytes in culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although keratinocyte-derived factors are known to promote the proliferation and differentiation of human epidermal melanocytes, it is not fully understood whether fibroblast-derived factors work in a similar way.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to clarify whether fibroblast-derived factors are involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of human melanocytes with or without keratinocytes using serum-free culture system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human epidermal melanoblasts and melanocytes were cultured in a serum-free growth medium supplemented with fibroblast-derived factors such as keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) with or without keratinocytes, and the effects of KGF on the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KGF stimulated the proliferation of melanoblasts in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transferrin (Tf), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Although KGF stimulated the differentiation, melanogenesis, and dendritogenesis in the presence of DBcAMP, Tf, and ET-1 without keratinocytes, KGF required the presence of keratinocytes for the stimulation of melanocyte proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fibroblast-derived KGF stimulates the proliferation of human melanoblasts in synergy with cAMP, bFGF, Tf, and ET-1, the differentiation of melanocytes in synergy with cAMP, Tf, and ET-1, and the proliferation of melanocytes in synergy with cAMP, Tf, ET-1, and undefined keratinocyte-derived factors.
authors.affiliation: Fukushima Restoration Support Headquarters, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan. thirobe@nirs.go.jp
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirobe
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Rikako
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Rumiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003563:Cyclic CMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D013997:Time Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D014168:Transferrin; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D003563:Cyclic CMP; C053441:dibutyryl cyclic-3',5'-cytidine monophosphate