Skin and hair pigmentation

[Guest guest]

Hi!

Your findings regarding the changes in skin and hair colours are not

coincidents, as this recent article states it (LDN increases beta-

endorphin levels).

Yours,

M.

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J Invest Dermatol. 2004 Jul;123(1):184-195. Related Articles, Links

beta-Endorphin as a Regulator of Human Hair Follicle Melanocyte

Biology.

Kauser S, Thody AJ, Schallreuter KU, Gummer CL, Tobin DJ.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, West

Yorkshire, UK.

The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, alpha-melanocyte-

stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone, are important

mediators of human skin pigmentation via action at the melanocortin-1

receptor. Recent data suggests that such a regulatory role also exists

for the endogenous opiate, beta-endorphin (beta-END). A role for this

beta-END in the regulation of follicular pigmentation, however, has not

been determined. This study was designed to examine the involvement

of the beta-END/micro-opiate receptor system in human follicular

melanocyte biology. We employed RT-PCR, and

immunohisto/cytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy using beta-

END and micro-opiate receptor specific antibodies and a functional role

for beta-END was assessed by direct stimulation with the peptide. This

study has demonstrated that human hair follicle melanocytes (HFM)

express mRNA for the micro-opiate receptor and POMC. Furthermore,

beta-END and its high affinity micro-opiate receptor are expressed at

the protein level in glycoprotein100-positive follicular melanocytes and

as a function of their anatomic location and differentiation status during

the hair growth cycle. Functional studies revealed that beta-END is a

modifier of HFM phenotype via its ability to upregulate melanogenesis,

dendricity, and proliferation. These findings suggest a new regulatory

role for beta-END in human HFM biology, providing a new research

direction into the fundamental regulation of human hair pigmentation.