Background: Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is induced by oxidative stress and plays important roles in anti-apoptosis and the rapid growth of several solid tumors. p53 has a central role in skin pigmentation and may impact onmelanoma at all stages. However, th...
Background: Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is induced by oxidative stress and plays important roles in anti-apoptosis and the rapid growth of several solid tumors. p53 has a central role in skin pigmentation and may impact onmelanoma at all stages. However, there has been little study of HO-1 in relation with p53 on melanin production Objectives: To know the effect of HO-1 on melanogenesis through p53 in normal human melanocytes Methods: Human melanocytes (hM) were primarily cultured from foreskin. After incubation, cells were rinsed twice with PBS then transfection with p53 siRNA Results: Melanin content was detected with ELISA and Western blot analysis and RT-PCR of tyrosinase, MITF were performed after ZnPP treatment and p53 transfection. After ZnPP treatment, melanin content was decreased, and tyrosinase and MITF protein levels were decreased. Tyrosinase and MITF mRNA levels were also decreased. However, melanin content and tyrosinase and MITF protein levels were increased after CoPP treatment. After p53 transfection, HO-1 expression was decreased when HO-1 stimulator was treated. In addition, melanin content was decreased, and tyrosinase expression was decreased in Western blot analysis Conclusion: These results suggest that melanogenesis is inhibited by ZnPP by decreased melanin production, tyrosinase and MITF protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, those inhibitory effects of ZnPP may be dependent on p53 in normal human melanocytes. Therefore, HO-1 may play an important role in melanogensis