Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase in B16 mouse melanoma cells: synergistic activation of melanogenesis by alphaMSH and ornithine decarboxylase inhibition

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 regulates pigmentation by controlling the pH of melanosomes in melanocytes and melanoma cells

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 (MGRN1) is an E3-ubiquitin ligase absent in dark-furred mahoganoid mice. We investigated the mechanisms of hyperpigmentation in Mgrn1-null melan-md1 melanocytes, Mgrn1-KO cells obtained by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockdown of Mgrn1 in melan-a6 melanocytes, and melan-a6 cells depleted of MGRN1 by siRNA treatment. Mgrn1-deficient melanocytes showed higher melanin content associated with increased melanosome abundance and higher fraction of melanosomes in highly melanized maturation stages III-IV. Expression, post-translational processing and enzymatic activity of the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme tyrosinase measured in cell-free extracts were comparable in control and MGRN1-depleted cells. However, tyrosinase activity measured in situ in live cells and expression of genes associated with regulation of pH increased upon MGRN1 repression. Using pH-sensitive fluorescent probes, we found that downregulation of MGRN1 expression in melanocytes and melanoma cells increased the pH of acidic organelles, including melanosomes, strongly suggesting a previously unknown role of MGRN1 in the regulation of melanosomal pH. Among the pH regulatory genes upregulated by Mgrn1 knockdown, we identified those encoding several subunits of the vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase V-ATPase (mostly Atp6v0d2) and a calcium channel of the transient receptor potential channel family, Mucolipin 3 (Mcoln3). Manipulation of expression of the Mcoln3 gene showed that overexpression of Mcoln3 played a significant role in neutralization of the pH of acidic organelles and activation of tyrosinase in MGRN1-depleted cells. Therefore, lack of MGRN1 led to cell-autonomous stimulation of pigment production in melanocytes mostly by increasing tyrosinase specific activity through neutralization of the melanosomal pH in a MCOLN3-dependent manner.

An ester extract of Cochinchina momordica seeds induces differentiation of melanoma B16 F1 cells via MAPKs signaling

Cochinchina momordica seeds (CMS) have been widely used due to antitumor activity by Mongolian tribes of China. However, the details of the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, we found that an EtOAc (ethyl ester) extract of CMS (CMSEE) induced differentiation and caused growth inhibition of melanoma B16 F1 cells. CMSEE at the concentration of 5-200 μg/ml exhibited strongest anti-proliferative effects on B16 F1 cells among other CMS fractions (water or petroleum ether). Moreover, CMSEE induced melanoma B16 F1 cell differentiation, characterized by dendrite-like outgrowth, increasing melanogenesis production, as well as enhancing tyrosinase activity. Western blot analysis showed that sustained phosphorylation of p38 MAP accompanied by decrease in ERK1/2 and JNK dephosphorylation were involved in CMSEE-induced B16 F1 cell differentiation. Notably, 6 compounds that were isolated and identified may be responsible for inducing differentiation of CMSEE. These results indicated that CMSEE contributes to the differentiation of B16 F1 cells through modulating MAPKs activity, which may throw some light on the development of potentially therapeutic strategies for melanoma treatment.

Sexual dimorphism of ornithine decarboxylase in the mouse adrenal: influence of polyamine deprivation on catecholamine and corticoid levels

Adrenal sexual dimorphism is thought to be important in explaining sex-related differences regarding prevalent diseases and the responses to stress and drugs. We report here that in CD1 mice there is marked sexual dimorphism affecting not only gland size and corticoid hormone secretion but also adrenal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), polyamine, and catecholamine levels in which testosterone appears to be a major determinant. Our results show that adrenal weight, ODC activity, and corticosterone and aldosterone secretion were higher in female than in male mice and that orchidectomy brought these male parameters closer to the values found in females. mRNA levels of steroidogenic proteins SF-1, Dax-1, steroid 21-hydroxylase, and aldosterone synthase appeared to be slightly higher in female than in male adrenals. Immunocytochemical analysis of adrenal ODC revealed that immunoreactivity was higher in females than in males and was located mainly in the cortical cells, and especially in zona glomerulosa, whereas no sex differences in ODC mRNA levels were observed. These results suggest that sex-associated differences in the expression of ODC in the mouse adrenal gland appear to be related mainly to posttranscriptional mechanisms. Combination treatment of mice with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (a suicide inhibitor of ODC) and a polyamine-deficient diet produced a marked decrease in adrenal polyamine and catecholamine levels and a significant reduction in plasma corticosterone and aldosterone concentrations that were not associated with a decrease in the mRNA levels of steroidogenic proteins. All of these data suggest a relevant role for testosterone, ODC, and polyamines in the mouse adrenal function.