title: Role of fibroblast-derived factors in the pathogenesis of melasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hyperactive melanocytes present in melasma skin are confined to the epidermis, but epidermal ablation to treat melasma pigmentation may lead to disease recurrence and aggravation. Melanocyte function is regulated by interactions between melanocytes and neighbouring cells such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Because melasma skin usually shows dermal changes after exposure to sunlight, we hypothesized that sun-damaged fibroblasts might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of melasma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the melanogenic role of primary cultured fibroblasts from human melasma skin was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We explored whether primary cultured fibroblasts from melasma tissue have a melanogenic function on cultured human epidermal melanocytes and artificial skin. The cytokine profile derived from fibroblasts and their effect on the pigmented epidermal equivalents were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibroblasts from the melasma lesion and perilesional skin increased melanogenesis in cultured human epidermal melanocytes and in artificial skin. Fibroblasts from the melasma lesion and perilesional skin secreted more nerve growth factor (NGF)-β than those in normal buttock skin, and also increased melanogenesis and the expression level of NGF-β in cultured human epidermal melanocytes and artificial skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fibroblasts may play a role in melanogenesis and the pathogenesis of melasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inha Hospital, INHA University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, INHA University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inha Hospital, INHA University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inha Hospital, INHA University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008548:Melanosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017768:Skin, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008543:Melanins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor