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Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford (S.K., A.J.T., K.U.S., D.J.T.), Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom; and Procter and Gamble Ltd. (C.L.G.), Surrey TW20 9NW, United Kingdom
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Desmond J. Tobin, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, United Kingdom. E-mail: d.tobin{at}bradford.ac.uk.
The proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, ACTH and 
-MSH, are the principal mediators of human skin pigmentation via their action at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC-1R). Recent data have demonstrated the existence of a functionally active ß-endorphin/µ-opiate receptor system in both epidermal and hair follicle melanocytes, whereby ß-endorphin can regulate melanogenesis, dendricity, and proliferation in these cells. However, a role for ACTH and -MSH in the regulation of the human follicular pigmentary unit has not been determined. This study was designed to examine the involvement of ACTH and the -MSH/MC-1R system in human follicular melanocyte biology. To address this question we employed RT-PCR and immunohisto/cytochemistry, and a functional role for these POMC peptides was assessed in follicular melanocyte cultures. Human scalp hair follicle melanocytes synthesized and processed POMC. ACTH and -MSH in association with their processing enzymes and MC-1R are expressed in human follicular melanocytes at the message level in vitro and at the protein level both in situ and in vitro. The expression of the POMC/MC-1R receptor system was confined only to subpopulations of poorly and moderately differentiated melanocytes. In addition, functional studies revealed that ACTH and -MSH are able to promote follicular melanocyte differentiation by up-regulating melanogenesis, dendricity, and proliferation in less differentiated melanocyte subpopulations. Thus, these findings suggest a role for these POMC peptides in regulating human hair follicle melanocyte differentiation.
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