Endothelin-2(ET-2)Promotes Cultured Ovine Skin Melanocytes Proliferation And Melanin Synthesis In Vitro

Endothelin (ET) and its receptor have been shown to play roles in the melanocytes mature. However, the reports on the function of ET-2 in melanogenesis are debated. Herein, we investigate the effect of ET-2 on ovine skin melanocytes proliferation and melanogenesis. MTT method and Ando methods showed that compared with the control (untreated) cells, the cell proliferation rates and melanin levels were significantly increased in melanocytes treated by ET-2 (1 to 100 nmol/L). Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot revealed that the levels of both mRNA and protein of the EDNRB, Tyr, Kit and Tyrp-1 genes were significantly increased. Endothelin antagonist inhibits endothelin-2 on sheep skin melanin cell proliferation, and the function of melanin.These data suggest that ET-2 may promote proliferation of ovine skin melanocytes and melanogenesis.