Ultraviolet B Radiation Acts through the Nitric Oxide and cGMP Signal Transduction Pathway to Stimulate Melanogenesis in Human Melanocytes

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the main physiological stimulus for human skin pigmentation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are still unclear. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP have been involved in mediation of skin erythema induced by UVB. Therefore, we investigated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of biological chemistry 1996-11, Vol.271 (45), p.28052-28056
Main Authors: Roméro-Graillet, Christine, Aberdam, Edith, Biagoli, Naïma, Massabni, William, Ortonne, Jean-Paul, Ballotti, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aminoquinolines - pharmacology
Cyclic GMP - analogs & derivatives
Cyclic GMP - metabolism
Cyclic GMP - pharmacology
Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology
Humans
Melanins - biosynthesis
Melanocytes - drug effects
Melanocytes - metabolism
Melanocytes - radiation effects
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology
Nitric Oxide - metabolism
Nitroprusside - pharmacology
Penicillamine - analogs & derivatives
Penicillamine - pharmacology
S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine
Signal Transduction
Ultraviolet Rays
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Summary:Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the main physiological stimulus for human skin pigmentation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are still unclear. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP have been involved in mediation of skin erythema induced by UVB. Therefore, we investigated the role of NO and cGMP in UVB-induced melanogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that UVB stimulation of melanogenesis was mimicked by exogenous NO donors. Additionally, we showed that NO stimulated cGMP synthesis and that cGMP was also a potent stimulator of melanogenesis. Furthermore, the inhibition of the melanogenic effect of NO by guanylate cyclase inhibitor demonstrated that NO mediated its effect through the activation of guanylyl cyclase. Interestingly, 1 min after UVB irradiation, we observed a significant increase in cGMP content in melanocytes. The effects of UVB on cGMP production and on melanogenesis were blocked by both guanylate cyclase and NO synthase inhibitors. Additionally, inhibition of cGMP-dependent kinase also prevented the stimulation of melanogenesis by UVB and NO. Therefore, we concluded that NO and cGMP production is required for UVB-induced melanogenesis and that cGMP mediated its melanogenic effects mainly through the activation of cGMP-dependent kinase.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1074/jbc.271.45.28052