title: The lactoferricin B-derived peptide, LfB17-34, induces melanogenesis in B16F10 cells.
abstract: Lactoferricin B (LfcinB), a peptide of bovine lactoferrin (LfB), exhibits multiple biological functions, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. However, the role of LfcinB-related peptides in melanogenesis remains unclear. In this study, a set of five LfcinB-related peptides was examined. We found that LfB17‑34, an 18-mer LfcinB-derived peptide, increased melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells without significantly affecting cell viability. LfB17‑34 increased in vitro tyrosinase activity and melanin content in a dose-dependent manner. The results of RT-qPCR and western blot analyses showed that LfB17‑34 increased the mRNA and protein expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (Trp1). Moreover, LfB17‑34 inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK/Erk, but not p38 and Akt, and constitutively active MEK was able to reverse the LfB17-34-enhanced pigmentation, melanin content, and tyrosinase activity, suggesting a role of Erk signaling in the process of LfB17‑34-mediated pigmentation. Taken together, these results suggest that LfB17‑34 induces melanogenesis in B16F10 cells primarily through increased tyrosinase expression and activity and that LfB17‑34 could be further developed for the treatment of hypopigmentation disorders.
authors.affiliation: Renorigin Innovation Institute, Taipei 11560, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Renorigin Innovation Institute, Taipei 11560, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Min-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010858:Pigmentation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008543:Melanins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C082171:lactoferricin B; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D007781:Lactoferrin