Vertebrate melanophores as potential model for drug discovery and development: A review |
| |
Authors: | Saima Salim Sharique A Ali |
| |
Institution: | (1) Biology Department and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | Drug discovery in skin pharmacotherapy is an enormous, continually expanding field. Researchers are developing novel and sensitive
pharmaceutical products and drugs that target specific receptors to elicit concerted and appropriate responses. The pigment-bearing
cells called melanophores have a significant contribution to make in this field. Melanophores, which contain the dark brown
or black pigment melanin, constitute an important class of chromatophores. They are highly specialized in the bidirectional
and coordinated translocation of pigment granules when given an appropriate stimulus. The pigment granules can be stimulated
to undergo rapid dispersion throughout the melanophores, making the cell appear dark, or to aggregate at the center, making
the cell appear light. The major signals involved in pigment transport within the melanophores are dependent on a special
class of cell surface receptors called G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Many of these receptors of adrenaline, acetylcholine,
histamine, serotonin, endothelin and melatonin have been found on melanophores. They are believed to have clinical relevance
to skin-related ailments and therefore have become targets for high throughput screening projects. The selective screening
of these receptors requires the recognition of particular ligands, agonists and antagonists and the characterization of their
effects on pigment motility within the cells. The mechanism of skin pigmentation is incredibly intricate, but it would be
a considerable step forward to unravel its underlying physiological mechanism. This would provide an experimental basis for
new pharmacotherapies for dermatological anomalies. The discernible stimuli that can trigger a variety of intracellular signals
affecting pigment granule movement primarily include neurotransmitters and hormones. This review focuses on the role of the
hormone and neurotransmitter signals involved in pigment movement in terms of the pharmacology of the specific receptors. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|