Effects of lysophosphatidic acid on melanogenesis

• Published in: Chemistry and physics of lipids Vol. 127; no. 2; pp. 199 - 206
• Main Authors: Kim, Dong-Seok, Park, Seo-Hyoung, Kwon, Sun-Bang, Youn, Sang-Woong, Park, Kyoung-Chan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; DNA-Binding Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Lysophosphatidic acid; Lysophospholipids - pharmacology; Melanins - biosynthesis; Melanocytes - cytology; Melanocytes - drug effects; Melanocytes - metabolism; Melanogenesis; Mice; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; Monophenol Monooxygenase - antagonists & inhibitors; Monophenol Monooxygenase - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Promoter Regions, Genetic - drug effects; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases - drug effects; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases - metabolism; RSK-1; Serine - metabolism; Transcription Factors - antagonists & inhibitors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tyrosinase; S1P; RSK-1; Lysophosphatidic acid; Edg; GSK-3; MITF; Melanogenesis; LPA; Tyrosinase
• ISSN: 0009-3084; 1873-2941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2003.11.002

In this study, we investigated the effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells. We found that LPA significantly attenuates melanin synthesis, and reduces the activity of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. Interestingly, LPA was also found to induce the activation of a 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK-1), which is known to phosphorylate microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) at serine 409. Though it has been previously reported that the phosphorylation of MITF is followed by the degradation of MITF, we found that LPA significantly inhibited MITF promoter activity, and that this reduced MITF and tyrosinase protein production. Our results indicate that LPA contributes to reduced melanin synthesis via the down-regulation of MITF.