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Prostaglandin production by melanocytic cells and the effect of a-melanocyte stimulating hormone

No / Prostaglandins are potent mediators of the inflam-matory response and are also involved in cancer development. In this study, we show that human melanocytes and FM55 melanoma cells express cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and-2) and thus have the capability to produce prostaglandins. TheFM55 cells produced predominantly PGE2and PGF2a, whereas the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line produced mainly PGE2. The anti-inflammatory peptide, a-melanocyte stimulating hormone(a-MSH), reduced prostaglandin production in FM55 and HaCaT cells and reversed the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a in the former. These results indicate that melanocytes produce prostaglandins and that a-MSH, by inhibiting this response, may play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses in the skin.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/4098
Date January 2004
CreatorsNicolaou, Anna, Estdale, Siân E., Tsatmali, Marina, Herrero, Daniel Pascual, Thody, Anthony J.
Source SetsBradford Scholars
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle, No full-text in the repository

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