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The induction of the α‐1‐adrenoceptor signal transduction system on human melanocytes
Author(s) -
Schallreuter Karin U.,
Körner Christa,
Pittelkow Mark R.,
Swanson Norma N.,
Gardner Michael L. G.
Publication year - 1996
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/j.1600-0625.1996.tb00088.x
Subject(s) - signal transduction , alpha (finance) , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , transduction (biophysics) , endocrinology , medicine , biology , chemistry , cancer research , biochemistry , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
Human melanocytes established in MCDB‐153 culture medium do not express α1‐, β1‐, β‐2 adrenoceptors without extracellular stimulation. The addition of 50×10 −9 M norepinephrine to the medium causes a time‐dependent induction of α‐1‐adrenoceptors with 4.278 receptors/melanocyte after 24 h. Under the same experimental conditions, the dendricity of melanocytes as well as melanogenesis was unaffected over 60 h. Since keralinocytes hold the full capacity for catecholamine biosynthesis but melanocytes lack this system, the secretion of catecholamines from keratinocytes appears to be of critical importance to the α‐1‐adrenoceptor in melanocytes, underlining the symbiosis of both cells in the epidermal unit.