Role of gap junctions between keratinocyte and melanocyte in melanogenesis

Divya Padma, Kapaettu Satyamoorthy, Kumar M.R. Bhat

PDF(1248 KB)
PDF(1248 KB)
Front. Biol. ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (6) : 495-502. DOI: 10.1007/s11515-015-1381-z
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Role of gap junctions between keratinocyte and melanocyte in melanogenesis

Author information +
History +

Abstract

The process of melanogenesis in melanocytes and the transport of melanin in the form of melanosomes to the neighboring keratinocytes are the key steps in human skin pigmentation. Keratinocytes and melanocytes interact in intricate manner to maintain the homeostasis. The present study was designed to understand the role of cell-cell interaction through the gap junctions between melanocytes and keratinocytes on melanogenesis. We show that, inhibition of the gap junctional activity between human keratinocytes and melanocytes in a coculture system using gap junction blocker lowers the expression of key regulatory genes of melanogenesis such as tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). This was followed by concurrent decrease in tyrosinase protein levels and activity. Our results show the preliminary evidence for the regulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes through direct gap junctional communication by keratinocytes. Deciphering the mechanism and factors involved in the process would uncover the significance of gap junctions in melanogenesis.

Keywords

melanocyte / keratinocyte / melanogenesis / gap junctions / cell communication

Cite this article

Download citation ▾
Divya Padma, Kapaettu Satyamoorthy, Kumar M.R. Bhat. Role of gap junctions between keratinocyte and melanocyte in melanogenesis. Front. Biol., 2015, 10(6): 495‒502 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-015-1381-z

References

[1]
Boger D L, Patterson J E, Guan X, Cravatt B F, Lerner R A, Gilula N B (1998). Chemical requirements for inhibition of gap junction communication by the biologically active lipid oleamide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 95(9): 4810–4815
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[2]
Costin G E, Hearing V J (2007). Human skin pigmentation: melanocytes modulate skin color in response to stress. FASEB J, 21(4): 976–994
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[3]
Dbouk H A, Mroue R M, El-Sabban M E, Talhouk R S (2009). Connexins: a myriad of functions extending beyond assembly of gap junction channels. Cell Commun Signal, 7(1): 4
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[4]
Evans W H, Martin P E (2002). Gap junctions: structure and function. Mol Membr Biol, 19(2): 121–136
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[5]
Fonseca P C, Nihei O K, Savino W, Spray D C, Alves L A (2006). Flow cytometry analysis of gap junction-mediated cell-cell communication: advantages and pitfalls. Cytometry A, 69(6): 487–493
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[6]
Goldberg G S, Valiunas V, Brink P R (2004). Selective permeability of gap junction channels. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1662(1-2): 96–101
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[7]
Gu S, Yu X S, Yin X, Jiang J X (2003). Stimulation of lens cell differentiation by gap junction protein connexin 45.6. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 44(5): 2103–2111
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[8]
Hirobe T (2005). Role of keratinocyte-derived factors involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of mammalian epidermal melanocytes. Pigment Cell Res, 18(1): 2–12
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[9]
Hsu M, Andl T, Li G, Meinkoth J L, Herlyn M (2000). Cadherin repertoire determines partner-specific gap junctional communication during melanoma progression. J Cell Sci, 113(Pt 9): 1535–1542
Pubmed
[10]
Meşe G, Richard G, White T W (2007). Gap junctions: basic structure and function. J Invest Dermatol, 127(11): 2516–2524
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[11]
Otręba M, Rok J, Buszman E, Wrześniok D (2012). Regulation of melanogenesis: the role of cAMP and MITF. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online), 66: 33–40
Pubmed
[12]
Park H Y, Kosmadaki M, Yaar M, Gilchrest B A (2009). Cellular mechanisms regulating human melanogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci, 66(9): 1493–1506
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[13]
Roméro-Graillet C, Aberdam E, Biagoli N, Massabni W, Ortonne J P, Ballotti R (1996). Ultraviolet B radiation acts through the nitric oxide and cGMP signal transduction pathway to stimulate melanogenesis in human melanocytes. J Biol Chem, 271(45): 28052–28056
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[14]
Sherman A, Rinzel J (1991). Model for synchronization of pancreatic beta-cells by gap junction coupling. Biophys J, 59(3): 547–559
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[15]
Suadicani S O, Flores C E, Urban-Maldonado M, Beelitz M, Scemes E (2004). Gap junction channels coordinate the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ signals generated by P2Y receptor activation. Glia, 48(3): 217–229
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[16]
Watanabe M, Iwashita M, Ishii M, Kurachi Y, Kawakami A, Kondo S, Okada N (2006). Spot pattern of leopard Danio is caused by mutation in the zebrafish connexin41.8 gene. EMBO Rep, 7(9): 893–897
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[17]
Watanabe M, Kondo S (2012). Changing clothes easily: connexin41.8 regulates skin pattern variation. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 25(3): 326–330
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar
[18]
Zhou J Z, Jiang J X (2014). Gap junction and hemichannel-independent actions of connexins on cell and tissue functions—an update. FEBS Lett, 588(8): 1186–1192
CrossRef Pubmed Google scholar

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, for the financial support for this work. We are indebted to Dr. Vijay Kumar, Pediatric surgeon, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, for providing the skin samples.
Divya Padma, K.Satyamoorthy and Kumar M.R. Bhat declare that they have no conflict of interest.
‚€This project has obtained the institutional ethical clearance before conducting the experiments. In this project, foreskin samples were obtained from children who were undergoing circumcision surgery for various purposes. Informed consent from the parents/guardian of the subjects were taken before collecting the samples.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
PDF(1248 KB)

Accesses

Citations

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/