Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Natale CA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4863824 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
eLife 20160426
The association between pregnancy and altered cutaneous pigmentation has been documented for over two millennia, suggesting that sex hormones play a role in regulating epidermal melanocyte (MC) homeostasis. Here we show that physiologic estrogen (17β-estradiol) and progesterone reciprocally regulate melanin synthesis. This is intriguing given that we also show that normal primary human MCs lack classical estrogen or progesterone receptors (ER or PR). Utilizing both genetic and pharmacologic appr ...[more]