Correlation between expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and melanin level in human skin autografts / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and the melanin in different kinds of human skin autografts and in the normal skins, so as to elucidate the role of α-MSH in hyperpigmentation in the skin autografts. Methods: Immunohistochemical technique was employed to detect the expression and distribution of α-MSH in skin autografts (including the full thickness skin autografts, medium thickness skin autografts, razor-thin skin autografts, and normal skins adjacent to the donor site and the recipient site). Masson-Fontana staining technique was used to detect the melanin contents in all the above skin specimens. Results: The location of α-MSH expression was at the cytoplasm of melanocytes and keratinocytes in epiderm; α-MSH was positive in most skin autografts and its expression was higher in the thinner skin autografts. The expression of α-MSH in all types of skin autografts was significantly different from that in normal skin (P<0.01); α-MS expression was also significantly different between all the skin autografts (P<0.01); α-MSH expression in normal skin around donor site and recipient site had no statistical difference. The contents of melanin in skin autografts was obvious increased compared with that in normal skin(P<0.01); the contents of melanin between all the skin autografts were also significantly different (P<0.01). The melanin contents increased with the decrease of skin autografts thickness. The expression of α-MSH was positively correlated with the contents of melanin in epidermis. Conclusion: The expression of α-MSH in skin autografts is positively correlated with the contents of melanin in skin autografts. Overexpression of α-MSH may play an important role in hyperpigmentation process of skin autografts.