Regulation of Melanogenesis by Human Uveal Melanocytes in vitro

• Published in: Experimental eye research Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 397 - 404
• Main Authors: HU, DAN-NING, MCCORMICK, STEVEN A., ORLOW, SETH J., ROSEMBLAT, SUSANA, LIN, ALEXANDER Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.03.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; basic fibroblast growth factor; Biological and medical sciences; Bucladesine - pharmacology; cAMP-elevating agents; Cells, Cultured; Cholera Toxin - pharmacology; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Melanins - metabolism; Melanocytes - cytology; Melanocytes - drug effects; Melanocytes - metabolism; melanogenesis; Monophenol Monooxygenase - drug effects; Monophenol Monooxygenase - metabolism; phorbol ester; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Uvea - cytology; uveal melanocytes; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; melanogenesis; phorbol ester; basic fibroblast growth factor; uveal melanocytes; cAMP-elevating agents; Eye; Human; Visual system; Uvea; Melanocyte; Basic fibroblast growth factor; Melanogenesis; In vitro
• ISSN: 0014-4835; 1096-0007
• DOI: 10.1006/exer.1996.0223

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors regulating melanogenesis in cultured human uveal melanocytes. The effects of various substances on the melanin content, tyrosinase activity and growth of cultured uveal melanocytes were tested. 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (a protein kinase C activator) and various cAMP-elevating agents, including isobutylmethylxanthine, cholera toxin, and dibutyryl-cAMP increased melanin content per culture, tyrosinase activity and cell numbers of uveal melanocytes in a dose dependent manner. Basic fibroblast growth factor (tyrosine kinase activator) stimulated growth but did not affect melanin content per culture of uveal melanocytesin vitro.These results indicate that cAMP-elevating agents and protein kinase C activator stimulate melanogenesis and growth of cultured uveal melanocytes. Tyrosine kinase activator stimulates growth but not melanogenesis of cultured uveal melanocytes.