Abstract

The loss of skin pigmentation can induce compromised cutaneous immunity, which can result in conditions such as vitiligo. In this study, we evaluated various agents that are able to induce the differentiation of stem cells into melanocytes. We found that a mixture of forskolin (FK), stem cell factor (SCF) and endothelin-3 (EDN-3) induced melanocyte-like morphology in human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CB-MSCs). In addition, significant expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M and tyrosinase-related protein-1 genes was observed. These results suggest that a mixture of FK, SCF and EDN-3 induces the differentiation of melanocyte-precursor cells (MPCs) from CB-MSCs.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cells, melanocyte-precursor cells, forskolin, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M, tyrosinase-related protein-1.

Abbreviation

FK, forskolin; SCF, stem cell factor; EDN-3, endothelin-3; MITF,microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M; TRP; tyrosinase-related protein;TYR, tyrosinase; CB-MSCs, cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells; MPCs,melanocyte-precursor cells; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; ACTH,adrenocorticotropic hormone; ï¡-MSH, ï¡-melanocyte stimulating hormone; CT,cholera toxin; IBMX, isobutylmethylxanthine.