title: Melanocytes as instigators and victims of oxidative stress.
abstract: Epidermal melanocytes are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress owing to the pro-oxidant state generated during melanin synthesis, and to the intrinsic antioxidant defenses that are compromised in pathologic conditions. Melanoma is thought to be oxidative stress driven, and melanocyte death in vitiligo is thought to be instigated by a highly pro-oxidant state in the epidermis. We review the current knowledge about melanin and the redox state of melanocytes, how paracrine factors help counteract oxidative stress, the role of oxidative stress in melanoma initiation and progression and in melanocyte death in vitiligo, and how this knowledge can be harnessed for melanoma and vitiligo treatment.
authors.affiliation: L'OREAL Research and Innovation, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denat
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kadekaro
authors.affiliation: L'OREAL Research and Innovation, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marrot
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Sancy A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Leachman
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Electronic address: abdelmza@uc.edu.
authors.forename: Zalfa A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Malek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016877:Oxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010858:Pigmentation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008543:Melanins; D016877:Oxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species