Loss of Melanopsin (OPN4) Leads to a Faster Cell Cycle Progression and Growth in Murine Melanocytes.

Curr Issues Mol Biol

Laboratory of Comparative Physiology of Pigmentation, Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil.

Published: October 2021

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 melanocytes displayed a faster proliferation rate compared to melanocytes. Cell cycle population analysis demonstrated that OPN4 melanocytes exhibited a faster cell cycle progression with reduced G-G and highly increased S and slightly increased G/M cell populations compared to the counterparts. Expression of specific cell cycle-related genes in 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 melanocytes compared to cells. Interestingly, the gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was upregulated in 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.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8929055PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cimb43030101DOI Listing

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