Spatiotemporal Expression, Distribution, and Processing of POMC and POMC-Derived Peptides in Murine Skin

The study investigated the expression and processing of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and its derived peptides in murine skin during the hair cycle, particularly following depilation-induced anagen. It was found that POMC mRNA and peptide levels, including ACTH, β-endorphin, β-MSH, and α-MSH, increased during anagen and varied among different cell types, such as keratinocytes and sebocytes. The presence of prohormone convertases PC1 and PC2 suggested their role in the differential processing of POMC. The study concluded that POMC-derived peptides might play significant roles in skin physiology, including immune modulation and stress responses, and highlighted the complex regulation of these peptides in relation to the hair cycle.