Oxidative stress in melanogenesis and melanoma development

Abstract

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer, with a growing number of incidents worldwide and with no effective cure in a metastatic stage so far. There are several pathways and processes engaged in melanoma pathogenesis that have been extensively explored in recent years. The emerging evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) is highly involved in melanin synthesis and melanoma formation. Melanoma is particularly susceptible to OS due to the involvement of melanin synthesis and UV radiation in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress influences melanoma immunity, the metastatic potential of melanoma cells and their resistance to therapy. In malignant melanocytes, the process of melanogenesis is frequently upregulated, suggesting possible therapeutic targets. This review describes the role of OS in melanin synthesis in melanocytes and explains how it affects melanoma cells. Better knowledge about the mechanisms involved in cancer progression may result in the development of better treatment strategies.

Review: The Key Factors to Melanomagenesis

“…Melanin biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)—Melanogenesis is a process during which melanin is synthesized and distributed [ 55 ]. There are several factors that are known for modulating melanogenesis, such as UVR, MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), the ERK/MAPK pathway, immune regulation, or mitochondrial dynamics [ 55 ].…”

“…Melanin biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)—Melanogenesis is a process during which melanin is synthesized and distributed [ 55 ]. There are several factors that are known for modulating melanogenesis, such as UVR, MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), the ERK/MAPK pathway, immune regulation, or mitochondrial dynamics [ 55 ]. The main function of melanin is photoprotection by absorbing UVR, but it can also lead to high levels of intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) increasing melanoma susceptibility [ 55 ].…”

Melanogenesis inhibition effect of ethanolic Andrographis paniculata leaf extract via suppression of tyrosinase and MITF expression

“…Therefore, hyperpigmentation can be treated by a compound that can control TYR and activity (Briganti et al, 2003;Lim et al, 2019). Moreover, previous studies reported melanin production and hyperpigmentation are elevated as the generation of ROS increases (Kamiński et al, 2022;Qiao et al, 2012). Hence, this study was conducted using the A. paniculata leaf extract known for its potency in antioxidant activity.…”

“…Nevertheless, there are no scientific reports on the whitening or lightening effect of the A. paniculata leaf extract. Studies reported melanin production can be activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Denat et al, 2014;Kamiński et al, 2022). Based on this finding, this study was used to evaluate the potential of the antimelanogenic property of the A. paniculata leaf extract.…”

Prospective isolation according to melanin pigment content of melanoma cells with heterogeneous potentials for disease propagation

“…Pheomelanin derives from benzothiazine units, which result from incorporation into quinones of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine (28, 29). It is not well understood why many melanomas retain the ability to produce melanin, and there is evidence that this retention impedes melanoma progression (26), even while it may – particularly phaeomelanin – contribute to melanomagenesis (30).…”