Expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptides in skin of basal cell carcinoma patients
A. Slominski et al., Expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptides in skin of basal cell carcinoma patients, HUMAN PATH, 30(2), 1999, pp. 208-215
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
We proposed that local expression and production of proopiomelanocortin (PO
MC) peptides may play a role in human skin physiology and pathology, includ
ing the development and progression of skin cancers. Reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blotting hybridization tech
niques were used to study gene expression. Reversed-phase (RP) high-pressur
e liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation with subsequent radioimmunoassays
were used to identify alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptides. Immunocytochemistry (IHC) was
used to localize ACTH, alpha-MSH, and beta-MSH antigens in skin. RT-PCR, R
P-HPLC, and MC analyses documented the expression of POMC mRNA and producti
on of ACTH and alpha-MSH peptides in lesional and perilesional skin of basa
l cell carcinoma (BCC) patients and in cultured keratinocytes, which was ac
companied by the expression of the MC1-R gene encoding the receptor activat
ed by MSH and ACTH. Thirty specimens were analyzed by IHC. Immunoreactive a
lpha-MSH, beta-MSH, and ACTH were detected, in 21 of 21, in 11 of 20, and i
n 6 of 8 of lesional skin, and in 6 of 6, in 5 of 7, and in 6 of 8 perilesi
onal skin specimens analyzed, respectively. Antigen distribution was hetero
genous and present in BCC, epidermis, hair follicles, dermal mononuclear ce
lls, and extracellular matrix. We conclude that messenger RNA for POMC, MC1
-R, and the peptides MSH and ACTH are produced in skin of BCC patients. Bec
ause keratinocytes are a target for MSH and ACTH bioregulation, the product
ion of these peptides is stimulated by UVB, and the peptides can act as imm
unosupressors, we suggest that MSH and ACTH may facilitate development of B
CC. Hmi PATHOL 30:208-215. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.