Dissecting the Impact of α-MSH-MC1R-cAMP Signaling on UVA-Induced Stress in Fibroblasts - Implications for Regulation of Cutaneous Photoaging

    January 2026 in “ Aging and Disease ”
    Markus Böhm, Agatha Stegemann, Agnieszka Wolnicka-Głubisz, Bartlomiej Olajossy, Nicole Schäfer, Stephan Niland, Runqiang Chen, Verena Raker, Kerstin Steinbrink, Susanne Grässel, Lionel Larue
    TLDR The α-MSH-MC1R-cAMP pathway does not protect skin cells from UVA damage.
    The study examined the role of the α-MSH-MC1R-cAMP signaling pathway in mitigating UVA-induced stress in adult human dermal fibroblasts (aHDFs) from 7-8 independent donors. It found that α-MSH did not suppress UVA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation or alter stress-related gene expression, indicating that this signaling pathway does not protect against UVA-induced damage in these cells. The research suggests that the canonical cAMP signaling pathway is not a key factor in reducing UVA-induced responses in aHDFs, and further studies are needed to explore its potential protective effects in other skin cell types. Limitations include the focus on dermal fibroblasts and the absence of in vivo model data.
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