The involvement of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase in the α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH)‐induced melanogenic and anti‐proliferative effects in B16 murine melanoma cells

Abstract

Activation of p38 or p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases has been shown to trigger differentiation in a number of cell types. The present study has investigated the roles of these kinases in the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanogenic and proliferative responses in B16 melanoma cells. Treatment of cells with α-MSH led to the time-dependent phosphorylation of both p38 and p44/42 MAP kinases. However, only inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activity with SB 203580 blocked both the α-MSH-induced melanogenic and anti-proliferative effects. It therefore appears that activation of the p38 pathway can promote melanogenesis and inhibit growth of B16 melanoma cells.