When The Circadian Clock Meets The Melanin Pigmentary System
March 2015
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
Studysummary In this study, silencing BMAL1 and PER1 genes increased melanogenic activity in follicular and epidermal melanocytes, suggesting that peripheral circadian clocks may regulate melanin pigmentation.
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The study by Hardman et al. (2015) demonstrated that silencing BMAL1 and PER1, components of the peripheral circadian clock, increased melanogenic activity in human hair follicles and skin melanocytes, evidenced by increased pigmentation, expression of tyrosinase and related proteins, and enhanced melanosome transfer to keratinocytes. The findings suggested that peripheral circadian rhythms played a significant role in regulating melanin pigmentation and skin physiology, opening new avenues for dermatological research and potential treatments for pigmentation disorders and melanoma.
