Antioxidative properties and inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium adolescentis on melanogenesis

Melanin is a dark pigment produced by melanocytes. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of melanogenesis. However, accumulation of melanin leads to various skin hyperpigmentation disorders. To find a novel skin-whitening agent, the antioxidant capacity of Bifidobacterium adolescentis culture filtrate and inhibitory effect on melanogenesis were investigated. The antioxidant effects of B. adolescentis culture filtrate include 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)(ABTS) radical cation scavenging activity and reducing power were measured spectrophotometrically. The reducing power is a useful index for the evaluation of potential antioxidants which carry out reduction of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of the bacterial culture filtrate on mushroom tyrosinase, B16F10 intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content were also determined. The results revealed that B. adolescentis culture filtrate (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5?%; v/v) effectively scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals, and lower concentrations of the bacterial culture filtrates (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5?%; v/v) showed potent reducing power in a dose-dependent pattern. Additionally, the bacterial culture filtrate suppressed murine tyrosinase activity and decreased the amount of melanin in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that B. adolescentis culture filtrate decreases the melanogenesis process of melanoma cells by inhibiting tyrosinase activity, which we suggest may be mediated through its antioxidant activity.     

A review of recent advances on the regulation of pigmentation in the human epidermis.

It has been recognised that the active transport of L-phenylalanine and its autocrine turnover to L-tyrosine via phenylalanine hydroxylase in the cytosol of epidermal melanocytes provides the majority of the L-tyrosine pool for melanogenesis. In this context, it has been shown that the cofactor 6(R)-L-erythro 5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobiopterin (6BH4) is produced de novo, recycled and regulated in both epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes to control tyrosine hydroxylase, phenylalanine hydroxylase and tyrosinase activity. Inhibition of the enzymes by excessive 6BH4 levels is reversible with alpha-MSH by specific complex formation between 6BH4 and the hormone. This direct mechanism of alpha-MSH is supported by the presence of the entire POMC processing system in the melanosome indicating a receptor independent control of eumelanogenesis. Finally, the role of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP2 is discussed in association with oxidative stress specifically related to hydrogen peroxide. These recent findings are based on detailed investigations of the depigmentation disorder vitiligo and Hermansky-Pudlák syndrome.     

Depigmenting effect of Xanthohumol from hop extract in MNT-1 human melanoma cells and normal human melanocytes

Xanthohumol (XH) is the most abundant prenylated flavonoid found in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) and has previously been shown to have depigmenting effects in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells; however, studies of its depigmenting efficacy in human melanocytes are still lacking. In this work, we explored the effects of XH on melanogenesis in MNT-1 human melanoma cells and normal human melanocytes from darkly-pigmented skin (HEM-DP). XH was screened for cytotoxicity over 48 h, and subsequently tested on melanogenesis in MNT-1 cells. XH was further tested in HEM-DP cells for melanin synthesis and melanosome export; dendricity was quantitated to assess effects on melanosome export. Melanosome degradation was studied in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Our results showed that XH inhibited melanin synthesis in MNT-1 cells at 30 μM but increased intracellular tyrosinase activity without affecting ROS levels. In HEM-DP cells, XH robustly suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity at nontoxic concentrations (2.5–5 μM) without any effect on melanin synthesis. However, XH inhibited melanosome export by reducing dendrite number and total dendrite length. Further testing in HaCaT cells demonstrated that XH induced melanosome degradation at low micromolar concentrations without any cytotoxicity. In summary, our results demonstrate that XH at low micromolar concentrations might hold promise as a potent inhibitor of human pigmentation by primarily targeting melanin export and melanin degradation. Further studies to elucidate the signaling mechanisms of action of melanosome export inhibition by XH and in vivo efficacy are warranted.     

Effect of streptomycin on melanogenesis and antioxidant status in melanocytes

Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic with an antituberculosis activity commonly used in clinical practice due to its good antimicrobial characteristics. A well-known undesirable side effect of this drug is ototoxicity, which may be caused by overproduction of reactive oxygen species and loss of melanocytes in the inner ear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of streptomycin on melanogenesis and antioxidant defense system in cultured normal human melanocytes (HEMa-LP). Streptomycin induced concentration-dependent loss in melanocytes viability. The value of EC₅₀ was determined to be ~5.0 mM. It has been shown that streptomycin causes inhibition of tyrosinase activity and reduces melanin content in human melanocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant changes in the activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were also stated. The results obtained in vitro may explain a potential role of melanocytes and melanin in the causative mechanisms of aminoglycosides ototoxic effects in vivo.     

Toll‐like receptors 2 and 3 enhance melanogenesis and melanosome transport in human melanocytes

Because little is known about how the innate immune response influences skin pigmentation, we examined whether Toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists participate in melanogenesis and melanosome transportation. We observed that TLR2/2 agonist HKLM and TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) increased the amount of extracellular melanin from primary human epidermal melanocytes. HKLM, but not Poly(I:C), increased the melanogenic genes such as tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase. Poly(I:C) increased the expression of Rab27A, a molecule that facilitates melanosome transport to perimembranous actin filament. UVB irradiation induced Rab27A and melanosome transportation in a similar manner of Poly(I:C). SiRNA for TLR3 or Rab27A suppressed the perimembranous accumulation of Gp100‐positive vesicles in melanocytes and decreased melanin transfer to neighboring keratinocytes induced by both Poly(I:C) and UVB. These results suggest that the microenvironment in the epidermis and innate immune stimuli, such as microbiome and ultraviolet represented here by TLR2 and TLR3 agonists, could affect the melanogenesis in human melanocytes.     

Regulation of Melanogenesis in Melanocytes

Melanogenesis refers to the biosynthesis of melanin pigment in pigment cells called melanocytes. Melanins are mixed biopolymers formed during a series of oxidation/reduction reactions that are initiated by the enzymatic hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to L-dopa. In living cells, melanogenesis is limited to melanosomes, the membrane bounded microscopic secretory granules of melanocytes. Melanosomes may be secreted into the environment as, for example, from the squid's ink gland; or be transferred to neighboring cells, such as the keratinocytes in human skin and hair; or they may remain within the pigment cell and change only their subcellular localization, as in the rapidly color-changing dermis of lower vertebrates. Regulation of the melanocytic phenotype involves synthesis of the biosynthetically active subcellular apparatus of melanogenesis, premelanosomes and tyrosinase, and the utilization of the final product, melanized melanosomes, in the translocation and secretory processes mentioned above. Genetic information for this regulation is stored in the nuclear genome whose expression is controlled by the intra- and extracellular environment. As premelanosomes become biosynthetically active, they mature into melanosomes by fusing with vesicles derived from the trans-Golgi network and the plasmalemma, thereby internalizing and incorporating contents and membrane components from inside the cell and the cell surface. In the process, melanosomes become acidified. The thesis pursued in this review explores the importance of the melanosome as the final common pathway of regulation of melanin biosynthesis.     

Modulation of antioxidant defense by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alpinia galanga</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curcuma aromatica</Emphasis> extracts correlates with their inhibition of UVA-induced melanogenesis

Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation is suggested to contribute to melanogenesis through promoting cellular oxidative stress and impairing antioxidant defenses. An overproduction of melanin can be associated with melanoma skin cancer and hyperpigmentation. Therefore, developing effective antimelanogenic agents is of importance. Alpinia galanga (AG) and Curcuma aromatica (CA) are traditional medicinal plants widely used for skin problems. Hence, this study investigated the antimelanogenic effects of AG and CA extracts (3.8–30 μg/ml) by assessing tyrosinase activity, tyrosinase mRNA levels, and melanin content in human melanoma cells (G361) exposed to UVA. The roles in protecting against melanogenesis were examined by evaluating their inhibitory effects on UVA-induced cellular oxidative stress and modulation of antioxidant defenses including antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and intracellular glutathione (GSH). In addition, possible active compounds accountable for biological activities of the extracts were identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC)-densitometric analysis. Our study demonstrated that UVA (8 J/cm²) induced both tyrosinase activity and mRNA levels and UVA (16 J/cm²)-mediated melanin production were suppressed by the AG or CA extracts at noncytotoxic concentrations. Both extracts were able to protect against UVA-induced cellular oxidant formation and depletion of CAT and GPx activities and GSH content in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, TLC-densitometric analysis detected the presence of eugenol and curcuminoids in AG and CA, respectively. This is the first report representing promising findings on AG and CA extract-derived antityrosinase properties correlated with their antioxidant potential. Inhibiting cellular oxidative stress and improving antioxidant defenses might be the mechanisms by which the extracts yield the protective effects on UVA-dependent melanogenesis.     

O-Methylation of L-dopa in Melanin Metabolism and the Presence of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase in Melanocytes

O-Methylation of L-dopa was investigated as a possible regulatory mechanism in melanin metabolism. The methylation product of L-dopa, 3-O-methoxytvrosine was detected in extracts of cultured human melanocytes. The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase is responsible for this O-methylation and that of the dihydroxyindolic intermediates of melanogenesis. The enzyme is present in melanocytes in its soluble and membrane-bound isoforms. Immuno-electron microscopy suggests the presence of the membrane-bound enzyme in the endoplasmic reticulum. This localization may indicate a role of catechol-O-methyltransferase in protecting the melanocyte against reactive dihydroxyphenolic intermediates of melanogenesis leaking from the melanogenic compartments. On the other hand, the O-methylation of L-dopa may serve as a regulatory point in melanogenesis during early stage of tyrosinase processing in the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Hypopigmenting agents: an updated review on biological, chemical and clinical aspects

An overview of agents causing hypopigmentation in human skin is presented. The review is organized to put forward groups of biological and chemical agents. Their mechanisms of action cover (i) tyrosinase inhibition, maturation and enhancement of its degradation; (ii) Mitf inhibition; (iii) downregulation of MC1R activity; (iv) interference with melanosome maturation and transfer; (v) melanocyte loss, desquamation and chemical peeling. Tyrosinase inhibition is the most common approach to achieve skin hypopigmentation as this enzyme catalyses the rate-limiting step of pigmentation. Despite the large number of tyrosinase inhibitors in vitro, only a few are able to induce effects in clinical trials. The gap between in-vitro and in-vivo studies suggests that innovative strategies are needed for validating their efficacy and safety. Successful treatments need the combination of two or more agents acting on different mechanisms to achieve a synergistic effect. In addition to tyrosinase inhibition, other parameters related to cytotoxicity, solubility, cutaneous absorption, penetration and stability of the agents should be considered. The screening test system is also very important as keratinocytes play an active role in modulating melanogenesis within melanocytes. Mammalian skin or at least keratinocytes/melanocytes co-cultures should be preferred rather than pure melanocyte cultures or soluble tyrosinase.     

Possible involvement of ERK 1/2 in UVA-induced melanogenesis in cultured normal human epidermal melanocytes

UV-induced melanogenesis is a well known physiological response of human skin exposed to solar radiation; however, the signaling molecules involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes following UV exposure remain unclear. In this study we induced melanogenesis in vitro in normal human epidermal melanocytes using a single irradiation with UVA at 1 kJ/m2 and examined the potential involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) as UVA-responsive signaling molecules in those cells. UVA irradiation did not affect the proliferation of melanocytes, but it did increase tyrosinase mRNA expression, which reached a maximum level 4 hr after UVA irradiation. The amount of tyrosinase protein, as quantitated by immunoblotting, was also increased at 24 hr following UVA irradiation. Among the MAPK examined, extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) 1/2 was phosphorylated within 15 min of UVA irradiation, but no such phosphorylation was observed for c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) or p38. Accordingly, the activity of ERK1/2 was also increased shortly after UVA irradiation. These responses of ERK1/2 to UVA irradiation were markedly inhibited when cells were pre-treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, or with suramin, a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. The formation of (6-4)photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was not detected in cellular DNA after UVA irradiation. These findings suggest that a single UVA irradiation-induced melanogenesis is associated with the activation of ERK1/2 by upstream signals that originate from reactive oxygen species or from activated tyrosine kinase receptors, but not from damaged DNA.     

Tropolone—a compound that can aid in differentiating between tyrosinase and peroxidase

In studies dealing with melanogenesis in mammalian tissues, ultrastructural localization of enzymes, identification of subcellular organelles, differentiation and lignification in plant tissues, it is important to have means to differentiate between tyrosinase and peroxidase activities. For a variety of reasons, established criteria used for this purpose are not always reliable. We suggest that tropolone can aid in differentiating between tyrosinase and peroxidase activities since: (a) it is a very effective inhibitor of tyrosinase; (b) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide it can serve as a substrate for peroxidase; (c) at concentrations that inhibit tyrosinase, it does not inhibit peroxidase activity; and (d) it inhibits tyrosinase activity even in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and peroxidase. In a system containing a mixture of tyrosinase and peroxidase, tropolone can differentiate reliably between peroxidase and monohydroxyphenolase or o-dihydroxyphenolase activities of tyrosinase. Moreover, tropolone can differentiate reliably between peroxidase and tyrosinase activities using slices or crude dialysed extracts of various plant tissues.     

Autophagy induction can regulate skin pigmentation by causing melanosome degradation in keratinocytes and melanocytes

Autophagy regulates cellular turnover by disassembling unnecessary or dysfunctional constituents. Recent studies demonstrated that autophagy and its regulators play a wide variety of roles in melanocyte biology. Activation of autophagy is known to induce melanogenesis and regulate melanosome biogenesis in melanocytes. Also, autophagy induction was reported to regulate physiologic skin color via melanosome degradation, although the downstream effectors are not yet clarified. To determine the role of autophagy as a melanosome degradation machinery, we administered several autophagy inducers in human keratinocytes and melanocytes. Our results showed that the synthetic autophagy inducer PTPD‐12 stimulated autophagic flux in human melanocytes and in keratinocytes containing transferred melanosomes. Increased autophagic flux led to melanosome degradation without affecting the expression of MITF. Furthermore, the color of cell pellets of both melanocytes and keratinocytes was visibly lightened. Inhibition of autophagic flux by chloroquine resulted in marked attenuation of PTPD‐12‐induced melanosome degradation, whereas the expression of melanogenesis pathway genes and proteins remained unaffected. Taken together, our results suggest that the modulation of autophagy can contribute to the regulation of melanocyte biology and skin pigmentation.     

Effects of hydroxybenzyl alcohols on melanogenesis in melanocyte-keratinocyte co-culture and monolayer culture of melanocytes

In mammalian skin, melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis can be stimulated by keratinocytes, fibroblasts and other regulatory factors. To determine whether hydroxybenzyl alcohols (HBAs) show more inhibitory in melanocytes cultured alone or in melanocytes co-cultured with keratinocytes, we developed a murine melanocyte-keratinocyte co-culture model to investigate the pigmentation regulators in company with other melanogenic inhibitors and stimulators. It was found that the effects of HBAs and melanogenic factors were more evident in melanocytes co-cultured with keratinocytes. Keratinocytes may play a synergistic role in melanocyte melanogenesis and influence the pigment production. The tests in the co-culture model also imply that the inhibitory effects of HBAs on melanogenesis are due to the direct inhibition of melanosomal tyrosinase activity. HBAs showed a low cytotoxicity. The eventual results proved that HBAs are promising and safe agents for skin whitening in melanocyte alone and in co-culture systems. The co-culture model provides a more physiologically realistic condition to study the interaction between melanocytes and keratinocytes, which enables a reliable screening system for depigmenting compounds.     

Analysis of the UV-Induced Melanogenesis and Growth Arrest of Human Melanocytes

Cultured human melanocytes derived from different skin types responded to frequent treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light with increased melanin synthesis, decreased proliferation, and morphologic signs of aging. These effects were augmented by increased frequency of irradiation with 15.5 mJ/cm² UV light. Stimulation of melanogenesis by UV light involved an increase in tyrosinase activity, without any change in the amounts of either tyrosinase or tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and a decrease in the amount of TRP-2, as determined by Western blot analysis. These results are different from the mechanisms by which other melanogenic agents, such as cholera toxin and isobutyl methylxanthine, stimulated melanogenesis, whereby the amounts of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 were increased. The decrease in the amount of TRP-2 might be significant in that it might alter the properties of the newly synthesized melanin. The UV irradiation protocol that was followed blocked melanocytes in G₂-M phase of the cell cycle without compromising cellular viability. Following three rounds of UV irradiation, melanocytes could recover from the growth arrest and resume proliferation. Treatment with 0.1 μM α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) postirradiation enhanced the melanogenic effect of UV light and stimulated the melanocytes to proliferate. The effects of α-MSH on the UV induced responses and their implications on photocarcinogenesis are being further investigated. Analyzing the mechanisms by which UV light exposure affects normal melanocytes might lead to a better understanding of how these cells undergo malignant transformation, and why individuals with different skin types differ in their susceptibility to skin cancers.     

Possible Involvement of ERK 1/2 in UVA‐Induced Melanogenesis in Cultured Normal Human Epidermal Melanocytes

UV‐induced melanogenesis is a well known physiological response of human skin exposed to solar radiation; however, the signaling molecules involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes following UV exposure remain unclear. In this study we induced melanogenesis in vitro in normal human epidermal melanocytes using a single irradiation with UVA at 1 kJ/m² and examined the potential involvement of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) as UVA‐responsive signaling molecules in those cells. UVA irradiation did not affect the proliferation of melanocytes, but it did increase tyrosinase mRNA expression, which reached a maximum level 4 hr after UVA irradiation. The amount of tyrosinase protein, as quantitated by immunoblotting, was also increased at 24 hr following UVA irradiation. Among the MAPK examined, extracellular signal‐related kinase (ERK) 1/2 was phosphorylated within 15 min of UVA irradiation, but no such phosphorylation was observed for c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNK) or p38. Accordingly, the activity of ERK1/2 was also increased shortly after UVA irradiation. These responses of ERK1/2 to UVA irradiation were markedly inhibited when cells were pre‐treated with N‐acetyl‐l ‐cysteine, an antioxidant, or with suramin, a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. The formation of (6‐4)photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was not detected in cellular DNA after UVA irradiation. These findings suggest that a single UVA irradiation‐induced melanogenesis is associated with the activation of ERK1/2 by upstream signals that originate from reactive oxygen species or from activated tyrosine kinase receptors, but not from damaged DNA.     

Syndecan‐2 regulates melanin synthesis via protein kinase C βII‐mediated tyrosinase activation

Syndecan‐2, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is highly expressed in melanoma cells, regulates melanoma cell functions (e.g. migration). Since melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes, which largely function to synthesize melanin, we investigated the possible involvement of syndecan‐2 in melanogenesis. Syndecan‐2 expression was increased in human skin melanoma tissues compared with normal skin. In both mouse and human melanoma cells, siRNA‐mediated knockdown of syndecan‐2 was associated with reduced melanin synthesis, whereas overexpression of syndecan‐2 increased melanin synthesis. Similar effects were also detected in human primary epidermal melanocytes. Syndecan‐2 expression did not affect the expression of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, but instead enhanced the enzymatic activity of tyrosinase by increasing the membrane and melanosome localization of its regulator, protein kinase CβII. Furthermore, UVB caused increased syndecan‐2 expression, and this up‐regulation of syndecan‐2 was required for UVB‐induced melanin synthesis. Taken together, these data suggest that syndecan‐2 regulates melanin synthesis and could be a potential therapeutic target for treating melanin‐associated diseases.