Cordycepin has been a traditional medicine in China and Korea for centuries. This study explored the inhibitory effect of cordycepin on melanogenesis and the relative molecular mechanisms. Cordycepin inhibited melanin synthesis-related enzymes, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP1) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP2). α-MSH a...

Tumor heterogeneity is commonly seen in melanoma patients and a hurdle to effective therapy as illustrated by the “mixed responses” frequently immunotherapy-treated patients. Previously, AXL+ cells were identified be highly resistant targeted therapy, whereas more differentiated MITF+ responded well RAF/MEK inhibitors. This study aimed identify if show intrinsic resistance immunotherapy, these ...

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) plays a pivotal role in melanocyte development and function as well melanoma pathogenesis. MITF amplification is common has been associated with resistance to targeted therapies. Melanin, whose synthesis largely regulated by MITF, powerful anti-oxidant activity. Here we show that additionally regulates transcriptional antioxidant program inc...

We report a case of dermal malignant melanoma that stained negatively for commonly done immunostains, HMB-45, and Melan-A. It stained weakly positive for S-100 protein, a less specific marker for melanocytes. The diagnosis was established by strongly positive immunostaining by MITF ( microphthlmia-associated transcription factor). A brief review of the MITF and its usefulness in the diagnosis o...

Although perifollicular repigmentation in the vitiligo lesions is owing to activation of follicular melanocyte stem cells and/or precursor followed by supplying matured melanocytes, underlying mechanism diffuse on whole surface remains still unknown. In addition presence remaining it conceivable that dermal contribute induce after treatment. Therefore, we investigated here whether and were redu...

The molecular networks that control the progression of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) are poorly defined. We have recently shown that the susceptibility to development of renal lesions after nephron reduction is controlled by a locus on mouse chromosome 6 and requires epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. Here, we identified microphthalmia-associated transcription factor A (MITF-A)...

Although autophagy plays a role in melanogenesis by regulating melanosome degradation and biogenesis in melanocytes, a detailed understanding of the regulatory functions of autophagy factors is lacking. Here, we report a mechanistic link between microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) activation and melanogenesis. We observed high expression of LC3 in melanosome-associated pigment-ri...

During embryogenesis, the transcription factor, Sox10, drives the survival and differentiation of the melanocyte lineage. However, the role that Sox10 plays in postnatal melanocytes is not established. We show in vivo that melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) and more differentiated melanocytes express SOX10 but that McSCs remain undifferentiated. Sox10 knockout (Sox10(fl); Tg(Tyr::CreER)) results in ...

Response to targeted therapies varies significantly despite shared oncogenic mutations. Nowhere is this more apparent than in BRAF (V600E)-mutated melanomas where initial drug response can be striking and yet relapse is commonplace. Resistance to BRAF inhibitors have been attributed to the activation of various receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), although the underlying mechanisms have been large...

Mast cell maturation is poorly understood. We show that enhanced PI3K activation results in accelerated maturation of mast cells by inducing the expression of microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf). Conversely, loss of PI3K activation reduces the maturation of mast cells by inhibiting the activation of AKT, leading to reduced Mitf but enhanced Gata-2 expression and accumulation of Gr1(+)Mac...