Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of imperatorin on Rab27a and tyrosinase in cultured human epidermal melanocytes

XIE Jia-jun1,LIN Ling2,#,LIU Shao-gang2,#,WU Xiao-jia1,RUAN Hai-dong1,GUO Pei-xiang1,TONG Peng-fei1,FANG Bin2,CHEN Wei-ying2,*,SHE Shao-yi3,*   

  1. 2009 Student of 7-year Clinical Medicine Program, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041
  • Received:2014-02-18 Revised:2014-04-03 Online:2014-07-30 Published:2014-07-30

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of imperatorin on Rab27a and tyrosinase in cultured human epidermal melanocytes. METHODS:Human epidermal melanocytes were separated,purified and cultured in vitro. Melanocytes were randomly divided into control group and imperatorin group. After 48 h incubation with culture medium M254 or imperatorin(50 or 25 μmol/L),the morphology of melanocytes was examined by inverted phase contrast microscopy. The effects of imperatorin on Rab27a and tyrosinase in melanocytes were investigated by immunofluoresent assay. The ultrastructures of melanocytes and melanosomes were studied by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS:The melanocytes cultured with imperatorin for 48 h had shorter dendrites. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the location of Rab27a and tyrosinase in melanocytes were not obviously changed,but the fluorescence intensity of Rab27a was enhanced (P<0.05) and tyrosinase attenuated (P<0.05). Fewer melanosomes found in the cultured human epidermal melanocytes by transmission electron microscopy. CONCLUSION:Imperatorin promoted the expression of Rab27a and inhibited tyrosinase activity.

Key words: melanocyte, imperatorin, tyrosinase, Rab27a, melanosome, transfer