Ultraviolet stimulated melanogenesis by human melanocytes is augmented by di-acyl glycerol but not TPA

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Cellular Physiology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.1041420216· OSTI ID:7190005

Friedmann, P S; Wren, F E; Matthews, J N ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Newcastle upon Tyne (England)

Epidermal melanocytes (MC) synthesize melanin in response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The mechanisms mediating the UV-induced activation of melanogenesis are unknown but since UVR induces turnover of membrane phospholipids generating prostaglandins (PGs) and other products, it is possible that one of these might provide the activating signal. We have examined the effects of prostaglandins (PGs) E1, E2, D2, F2 alpha, and di-acyl glycerol upon the UV-induced responses of cultured human MC and the Cloudman S91 melanoma cell line. The PGs had little effect on unirradiated cells and did not alter the response to UVR in either human MC or S91 melanoma cells. However, a synthetic analogue of di-acyl glycerol, 1-oleyl 2-acetyl glycerol (OAG), caused a significant (P less than 0.0001), dose-related augmentation of melanin content both in human MC (seven-fold) and S91 cells (three-fold). UVR caused a significant augmentation of the OAG-induced melanogenesis of both human MC and S91 cells. Since OAG is known to activate protein kinase C, it was possible that the observed modulation of the UVR signal could be via that pathway. Di-octanoyl glycerol, another di-acyl glycerol, which activates kinase C, caused a small (70%) increase in melanogenesis in MC which was not altered by UVR. However, 12-0 tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of protein kinase C, had no significant effect on either basal or UV-induced melanin synthesis in either cell type. These data suggest that the UV-induced signal activating melanogenesis could be mediated by di-acyl glycerol. Furthermore, they imply that the signal is transduced via an alternative, pathway that might be independent of protein kinase C.

• OSTI ID: 7190005
• Journal Information: Journal of Cellular Physiology; (USA), Vol. 142:2; ISSN 0021-9541
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
GLYCEROL
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
MELANIN
BIOSYNTHESIS
PHORBOL ESTERS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PROSTAGLANDINS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CELL DIVISION
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EPIDERMIS
MAN
MELANOMAS
MICE
PHOSPHOTRANSFERASES
TUMOR CELLS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ALCOHOLS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARCINOGENS
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENZYMES
EPITHELIUM
ESTERS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHOSPHORUS-GROUP TRANSFERASES
PIGMENTS
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
SKIN
SYNTHESIS
TISSUES
TRANSFERASES
VERTEBRATES
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology