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Regulation of pigmentation by substrate elasticity in normal human melanocytes and melanotic MNT 1 human melanoma cells
Author(s) -
Choi Hyunjung,
Kim Mina,
Ahn Song Ih,
Cho EunGyung,
Lee Tae Ryong,
Shin Jennifer H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12343
Subject(s) - integrin , focal adhesion , melanoma , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , cell adhesion , matrigel , biophysics , cell , biology , cancer research , biochemistry
The elasticity of the cellular microenvironment is a key regulator of cellular physiology in many cell types. To investigate the effects of substrate stiffness on the pigmentation process, we cultured normal human melanocytes ( NHM ) and MNT 1 melanoma cells on laminin‐coated polydimethylsiloxane ( PDMS ) substrates of different stiffness. The dendricity of NHM and MNT 1 cells was reduced as the substrate stiffness decreased, and the degree of melanosome transfer from NHM or MNT 1 cells to normal human keratinocytes was decreased on softer substrates with the reduced dendricity. Gene and protein expressions of MITF , tyrosinase, TRP 2, and gp100/ PMEL 17 exhibited a consistent decreasing trend with the decreasing stiffness. Because the stiffness sensing is mediated by focal adhesion complex through integrin receptors, we checked laminin specific integrin alpha 6 and p‐ FAK for MNT 1 cells to observe that the substrate adhesion was weakened as the substrate stiffness decreased. Weaker adhesion on a softer substrate was accompanied by dynamic shape changes in MNT 1 cells with higher speed and larger scattering. Dendritic MNT 1 cells cultured on a stiffer substrate exhibited lower migration with smaller root mean squared displacement. These results demonstrate the possibility that skin pigmentation can be influenced by mechanical properties of the cellular microenvironment and can increase when the skin becomes stiff.