title: Action spectrum of melanoblast maturation and involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates melanocyte activation and skin tanning. We hypothesized that the AHR also mediates melanoblast-to-melanocyte maturation. In a cloned cell line, NCCmelb4, derived from mouse neural crest cells, we investigated AHR expression in melanoblasts stimulated by UV irradiation and AHR agonists. We irradiated the cells with UV, ranging from 280 to 380 nm in 10-nm increments, using a multiwavelength irradiation spectral apparatus. Tyrosinase expression significantly increased with bimodal peaks at 310 and 360 nm. Although melanoblast activation peaked 48 hours after irradiation, the most suitable irradiation interval was 24 hours. AHR expression significantly increased at 360 nm, but not at 310 nm. The AHR agonist, VAF347, and water-soluble tobacco smoke extract induced melanoblast maturation and AHR activation. The culture supernatant derived from the NS47 fibroblast cell line also induced melanoblast maturation and AHR activation. These findings suggest that UV and environmental stimulation of melanoblast-to-melanocyte maturation are enhanced via the AHR pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Akimichi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D012906:Smoke; C509596:VAF347; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
keywords: action spectrum of melanocyte development; aryl hydrocarbon receptor; melanoblast; melanocyte; ultraviolet radiation