Human melanocytes as a target tissue for hormones: in vitro studies with 1 alpha-25, dihydroxyvitamin D3, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, and beta-estradiol.

Clinical evidence exists which suggests that normal pigment cell (melanocyte) function is subject to hormonal influences, but the nature of these interactions at a cellular level is poorly understood. We have investigated the effects of the vitamin D-derived secosteroid hormone 1 alpha-25, dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the pituitary-derived peptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and the sex steroid beta-estradiol on melanocytes cultured from normal human foreskin. Human melanocytes specifically internalized 1,25(OH)2D3 with high affinity (Kd 0.5-0.8 nM). Incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3 (10(-9) M) for 48 h resulted in a 100% increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase activity and a 50% increase in tyrosinase activity. There was no significant effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). In contrast to 1,25(OH)2D3, alpha-MSH at a concentration of 5 X 10(-7) M caused a sevenfold increase in intracellular cAMP after 12 min but only a modest increase (less than 20%) in melanocyte tyrosinase activity after 48 h. Incubation with beta-estradiol for 24 h caused a dose-dependent increase in tyrosinase activity. The maximal response varied from 145%-213% of basal activity depending on the donor source. These results indicate that melanocytes from normal human foreskin in culture have the capacity to respond directly to several hormones. They also suggest that these cells form a useful model to study the effect of various hormones on pigment cell function.