Link between Pigment Production and Mitochondrial Function in Melanoma

New research published in the January 2015 issue of FASEB Journal highlighted a direct correlation between mitochondrial function alterations and the production of melanin in cancerous skin cells. Researchers found that as melanoma cells produce increased melanin pigment, the mitochondria retaliates by matching production levels of reactive oxygen species.

Mark Birch-Machin, PhD, a researcher from the Department of Dermatological Sciences at the Institute of Cellular Medicine at the Medical School of Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, said, “This study reports a novel correlation between proteins involved in the bioenergy process within the human skin (ie, Complex II) and skin pigmentation. This leads to interesting possibilities of Complex II playing a central role in coupling stress sensing and cellular adaptation via ROS signaling and as this study was performed in skin cancer cells may help in the development of anti-cancer drugs.”

The team of scientists scrutinized 3 types of melanoma skin cancer cell lines that displayed standard low, medium, and high pigment levels and analyzed their levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or oxidative stress and mitochondrial Complex II function in a resting state. Study results found that the darker the cells, the higher the Complex II function. Additionally, experts noted the rate of ROS generation by Complex II in darker cells was higher. Therefore, immediately after treatment, the ROS level increased approximately 300%, but gradually reduced to a basal level with further hyperpigmentation.

Gerald Weissmann, MD, and Editor-in-Chief of FASEB Journal,shared a common ideology, “Melanoma may be preventable by using sunscreen, but too many people still die of the disease.” Weissmann continued, “This research shows a direct relationship between pigment production (as when our skin tans) and the production of Reactive Oxygen Species by mitochondria (and/or the sun). It’s not a very attractive relationship since it leads to cancer progression.”