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Investigation of the corticotropin‐releasing hormone–proopiomelanocortin axis in various skin tumours
Author(s) -
Kim M.H.,
Cho D.,
Kim H.J.,
Chong S.J.,
Lee K.H.,
Yu D.S.,
Park C.J.,
Lee J.Y.,
Cho B.K.,
Park H.J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07442.x
Subject(s) - proopiomelanocortin , hormone , corticotropin releasing hormone , adrenocorticotropic hormone , medicine , endocrinology , melanocyte stimulating hormone , hacat , basal cell carcinoma , immunohistochemistry , prohormone , biology , cell culture , basal cell , genetics
Summary Background Various types of external stress cause the skin and central neuroendocrine system to express corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH)–proopiomelanocortin (POMC) axis‐related hormones. However, the precise role of the CRH–POMC axis‐related hormones in various skin tumours is unclear. Objectives This study examined expression patterns of the CRH–POMC axis‐related hormones in skin tumours. Methods The production of CRH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and α ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone ( α ‐MSH) in various tumour cell lines including HaCaT and primary keratinocytes was examined using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumours was also performed. Results CRH, ACTH and α ‐MSH were strongly expressed in malignant skin tumour cell lines such as G‐361 and DX‐3 (both malignant melanoma, MM). However, normal and haematological malignancy cell lines did not express the CRH–POMC axis‐related hormones. Immunohistochemical analysis of the skin tumours showed that MM (80%), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, 70%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 10%) had strong immunoreactivity (++/+++) for CRH. Strong ACTH and α ‐MSH expression was observed in MM (70% and 50%, respectively), SCC (80% and 60%, respectively) and BCC (70% and 50%, respectively). Conclusions We report that an increase in the level of the CRH–POMC axis‐related hormones is associated with malignant skin tumours such as MM. These results highlight the importance of the CRH–POMC axis‐related hormones in the malignant tendency of skin tumours.