title: Melanocortin 1 receptor and skin pathophysiology: beyond colour, much more than meets the eye.
abstract: The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a G protein-coupled receptor preferentially expressed in melanocytes, mediates the pigmentary effects of α melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH). MC1R is also expressed in other cutaneous cell types, particularly keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, suggesting non-pigmentary actions of the αMSH/MC1R system. Böhm and Stegemann now report a dramatic effect of mouse Mc1r functional status on susceptibility to skin fibrosis and collagen types I and III metabolism, in a study combining the powerful mouse model provided by the natural Mc1r(e/e) knockout and an established model of skin fibrosis. The study underscores the antifibrotic role for the skin αMSH/MC1R system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García-Borrón
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olivares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D003094:Collagen
keywords: collagen metabolism; fibroblasts; melanocortin 1 receptor; skin fibrosis