Ultraviolet radiation acts as an independent mitogen for normal human melanocytes in culture

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Pigment Cell Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0749.1988.tb00142.x· OSTI ID:6023721

Libow, L F; Scheide, S; DeLeo, V A

Identification of growth factors for normal human melanocytes has been significantly aided by the recent development of in vitro culture systems for this cell. Utilizing such a system, we studied the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on both melanocyte growth and melanization by incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 3H-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (3H-DOPA), respectively. 3H-thymidine incorporation was found to be significantly stimulated during the first 24 h following a single irradiation. 3H-DOPA incorporation was stimulated after a delay of 2 days postirradiation. Whereas UVR has long been known to induce melanocyte proliferation in vivo, these studies show that UVR can act as a mitogenic stimulus for this cell independent of the cutaneous environment. UVR can thus be added to a growing list of growth factors for epidermal pigment cells and is the only physical agent conclusively shown to act as a mitogen. Included in this list are substances that act via stimulation of the CAMP-kinase or protein kinase systems such as cholera toxin and phorbol esters. UVR is postulated to induce melanocyte proliferation by modulation of these second messenger pathways. With recent evidence linking growth factors, oncogenes and malignant transformation, this study supports the association between UVR exposure and the development of malignant melanoma, and suggests mechanisms whereby UVR may contribute to malignant transformation of this cell.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6023721
• Journal Information: Pigment Cell Res.; (United States), Vol. 1:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
CELL PROLIFERATION
MELANOMAS
RADIOINDUCTION
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CELL CULTURES
DNA REPLICATION
DOPA
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GROWTH FACTORS
MELANIN
MITOGENS
PHORBOL ESTERS
THYMIDINE
TOXINS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
AMINO ACIDS
ANTIGENS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CARCINOGENS
DISEASES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ESTERS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NEOPLASMS
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEIC ACID REPLICATION
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
PROTEINS
PYRIMIDINES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RIBOSIDES
TOXIC MATERIALS
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture