English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes. To further analyze how melanotropins produce these biological effects, we investigated the regulation of the melanocortin receptor MC1R expression by alpha-MSH and ACTH using Northern blot analysis and determine the relative affinity of the receptor for the structurally similar peptides alpha-MSH, ACTH, beta-MSH, and gamma-MSH. We also determined the relative potencies of these hormones to stimulate cAMP formation, tyrosinase activity, and melanocyte proliferation. The order of affinity and potency of the noted melanotropins in these assays were alpha-MSH = ACTH &gt; beta-MSH &gt; gamma-MSH. Because the binding affinity of each of these melanotropins for the MC1R correlated with its ability to stimulate human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis, we conclude that these effects are mediated specifically by binding to and activation of the MC1R. gamma-MSH stimulated cAMP formation without affecting proliferation or melanogenesis. However, we found that relative to alpha-MSH, the effect of gamma-MSH on cAMP formation was transient. Our results suggest that alpha-MSH, ACTH, and possibly beta-MSH, but not gamma-MSH, are capable of a physiological role in regulating human pigmentation, and that melanocytes in human skin are a specific target for these hormones.

Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis.