Increased serum alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in human malignant melanoma

Ghanem, Ghanem Elias; Líénard, Danielle; Hanson, Philippa; Lejeune, Ferdinand; Fruhling, Janos

doi:10.1016/0277-5379(86)90125-2

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Ghanem et al (127) found that melanoma patients have increased serum levels of ␣-MSH-IR, and these could be positively correlated with progression of clinical stage or level of invasion. This suggests that local tissue MSH could eventually spill into the blood.…”

Section: Humanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Słomiński

Wortsman

Luger

et al. 2000

Physiological Reviews

703

838

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The skin is a known target organ for the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived neuropeptides alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), beta-endorphin, and ACTH and also a source of these peptides. Skin expression levels of the POMC gene and POMC/corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) peptides are not static but are determined by such factors as the physiological changes associated with hair cycle (highest in anagen phase), ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, immune cytokine release, or the presence of cutaneous pathology. Among the cytokines, the proinflammatory interleukin-1 produces important upregulation of cutaneous levels of POMC mRNA, POMC peptides, and MSH receptors; UVR also stimulates expression of all the components of the CRH/POMC system including expression of the corresponding receptors. Molecular characterization of the cutaneous POMC gene shows mRNA forms similar to those found in the pituitary, which are expressed together with shorter variants. The receptors for POMC peptides expressed in the skin are functional and include MC1, MC5 and mu-opiate, although most predominant are those of the MC1 class recognizing MSH and ACTH. Receptors for CRH are also present in the skin. Because expression of, for example, the MC1 receptor is stimulated in a similar dose-dependent manner by UVR, cytokines, MSH peptides or melanin precursors, actions of the ligand peptides represent a stochastic (predictable) nonspecific response to environmental/endogenous stresses. The powerful effects of POMC peptides and probably CRH on the skin pigmentary, immune, and adnexal systems are consistent with stress-neutralizing activity addressed at maintaining skin integrity to restrict disruptions of internal homeostasis. Hence, cutaneous expression of the CRH/POMC system is highly organized, encoding mediators and receptors similar to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This CRH/POMC skin system appears to generate a function analogous to the HPA axis, that in the skin is expressed as a highly localized response which neutralizes noxious stimuli and attendant immune reactions.

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Section: Humanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Słomiński

Wortsman

Luger

et al. 2000

Physiological Reviews

703

838

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Melanomas can produce MSH peptides and, consequently, autoregulate their behavior via intracrine, autocrine, and paracrine mechanisms. 16,46,49,54,55 For example, a-MSH is an immunosuppressor and stimulator of melanogenesis, and, depending on the genotype, it can regulate melanocyte proliferation. 16,56,57 It also has been reported that a mutation in the MCI receptor may be associated with melanoma development.…”

Section: Growth Factors Cytokines and Their Receptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Pathology of Malignant Melanoma

et al. 1998

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“…There is indeed evidence of elevated levels of circulat ing immunoreactive a-MSH in patients with melanoma [11] and this could be derived, at least in part, from the melanoma cells. Furthermore a melanoma cell line has been derived from a patient who was also exhibiting Cushing's syndrome; a condition associated with abnor mally high levels of circulating ACTH [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Immunoreactivity in Melanoma Cells

et al. 1990

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Using a radioimmunoassay specific for α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), significant levels of immunoreactivity were detected in a range of murine and human melanoma cell lines, including a series of ras-transfected melanocytes. The levels found in the melanoma cell lines tested varied, and overall were higher than in non-melanoma cell lines assayed for comparison. Furthermore the highest levels of immunoreactivity measured tended to be in the least differentiated and most metastatic melanoma lines. High performance liquid chromatography showed a peak of immunoreactivity which co-migrated with a desacetyl α-MSH standard. Additional unidentified components of immunoreactivity were found, including a high molecular weight form revealed by Sephadex-G50 gel exclusion. These may represent bound α-MSH or fragments of the proopiomelanocortin precursor having in common the C-terminus epitope recognised by the antibody. In view of the known effects of α-MSH on anchorage independent growth and metastasis of melanoma cells, our findings raise the possibility that MSH peptides may have an autocrine role in the growth and progression of melanoma. However, further characterisation of the immunore-active species is required to determine whether these represent biologically active forms.

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Increased serum alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in human malignant melanoma

Cited by 24 publications

References 2 publications

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Molecular Pathology of Malignant Melanoma

Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Immunoreactivity in Melanoma Cells

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