Retinoids Modulate MITF: A Novel Mechanism in the Regulation of Melanogenesis

    January 2015
    Elyse K. Paterson
    TLDR Retinoids or their analogs could treat skin pigmentation disorders like melasma and vitiligo.
    The study explored the regulation of melanogenesis, focusing on the role of Tyrosinase (TYR) and Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1). It found that partial depletion of TYR in mice did not significantly reduce melanin accumulation, suggesting TYR might not be an ideal target for treating hyperpigmentary disorders. A genome-wide siRNA screen identified 92 novel regulators of melanogenesis, with ALDH1A1 being notable for its impact on TYR expression. Inhibiting ALDH1A1 with cyanamide reduced pigment and melanin synthesis in melanoma cells and human skin models, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for hyperpigmentation disorders like melasma. The study also discovered that 9-cis retinoic acid, a product of ALDH1A1, stimulates melanin synthesis via the MITF-A promoter, regulated by RAR and RXR nuclear receptors. This suggests that retinoids or their analogs could be effective in treating both hyperpigmentary and hypopigmentary disorders, including vitiligo.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 139 results

      community Painkillers May Block Minoxidil

      in Research/Science  12 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      Painkillers like Aspirin may reduce Minoxidil's effectiveness by inhibiting the enzyme PGHS-1, which is crucial for hair growth. Using NSAIDs that inhibit COX-2 or combining Minoxidil with PGF2/E2 analogues or retinoids may enhance its efficacy.

      community DLQ01: A Better "Minoxidil" PGF2a synthetic analogue.

      in Research/Science  3 upvotes 1 month ago
      DLQ01, a prostaglandin F2α analog, shows promise for hair growth by directly stimulating PGE2/PGF receptors without needing conversion, and can be combined with minoxidil and retinoids like tretinoin for enhanced effectiveness. Minoxidil's efficacy may be reduced by COX-1 inhibitors, but using prostaglandin analogs like Latanoprost or Bimatoprost can help maintain its effectiveness.
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  830 upvotes 7 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Heavy shedding after adding tretinoin (.01%) to minoxidil - 2.5 months

      in Minoxidil  3 upvotes 1 year ago
      After adding tretinoin to minoxidil for hair loss treatment, the user experienced increased shedding and no visible regrowth, despite also using microneedling and ketoconazole shampoo. The user cannot take finasteride due to side effects and is seeking advice on whether to continue with the current routine or modify the use of tretinoin.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results