Loss of Melanopsin (OPN4) Leads to a Faster Cell Cycle Progression and Growth in Murine Melanocytes
| Autor: | Leonardo Vinícius Monteiro de Assis, Maria Nathália Moraes, Davi Mendes, Matheus Molina Silva, Carlos Frederico Martins Menck, Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology, Vol 43, Iss 3, Pp 1436-1450 (2021) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 1467-3045 1467-3037 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/cimb43030101 |
| Popis: | Skin melanocytes harbor a complex photosensitive system comprised of opsins, which were shown, in recent years, to display light- and thermo-independent functions. Based on this premise, we investigated whether melanopsin, OPN4, displays such a role in normal melanocytes. In this study, we found that murine Opn4KO melanocytes displayed a faster proliferation rate compared to Opn4WT melanocytes. Cell cycle population analysis demonstrated that OPN4KO melanocytes exhibited a faster cell cycle progression with reduced G0–G1, and highly increased S and slightly increased G2/M cell populations compared to the Opn4WT counterparts. Expression of specific cell cycle-related genes in Opn4KO melanocytes exhibited alterations that corroborate a faster cell cycle progression. We also found significant modification in gene and protein expression levels of important regulators of melanocyte physiology. PER1 protein level was higher while BMAL1 and REV-ERBα decreased in Opn4KO melanocytes compared to Opn4WT cells. Interestingly, the gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was upregulated in Opn4KO melanocytes, which is in line with a higher proliferative capability. Taken altogether, we demonstrated that OPN4 regulates cell proliferation, cell cycle, and affects the expression of several important factors of the melanocyte physiology; thus, arguing for a putative tumor suppression role in melanocytes. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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