Protective effects of glutamine on human melanocyte oxidative stress model

• Published in: Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology venereology, and leprology, 2018-05, Vol.84 (3), p.269-274
• Main Authors: Jiang, Liya, Guo, Zhen, Kong, Yulong, Liang, Jianhua, Wang, Yi, Wang, Keyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - physiology; Care and treatment; Causes of; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Dermatology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzymes; Gene expression; Glutamine; Glutamine - pharmacology; Glutamine - therapeutic use; Health aspects; Heat shock proteins; Humans; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - toxicity; Male; Melanocytes; Melanocytes - drug effects; Melanocytes - metabolism; Morphology; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Pathogenesis; Reactive oxygen species; Rodents; Skin; Stress response; Vitiligo; Vitiligo - drug therapy; Vitiligo - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0378-6323; 0973-3922; 1998-3611
• DOI: 10.4103/ijdvl.ijdvl_106_17

Background: Vitiligo is a disorder caused by the loss of the melanocyte activity on melanin pigment generation. Studies show that oxidative-stress induced apoptosis in melanocytes is closely related to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Glutamine is a well known antioxidant with anti-apoptotic effects, and is used in a variety of diseases. However, it is unclear whether glutamine has an antioxidant or anti-apoptotic effect on melanocytes. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of glutamine on a human melanocyte oxidative stress model. Methods: The oxidative stress model was established on human melanocytes using hydrogen peroxide. The morphology and viability of melanocytes, levels of oxidants [reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde], levels of antioxidants [superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase], and apoptosis-related indicators (caspase-3, bax and bcl-2) were examined after glutamine exposure at various concentrations. Expressions of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and heat shock protein 70 were detected using western blot technique after glutamine exposure at various concentrations. Results: Our results demonstrate that pre-treatment and post-treatment with glutamine promoted melanocyte viability, increased levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and bcl-2, decreased levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, bax and caspase-3, and enhanced nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and heat shock protein 70 expression in a dose dependent manner. The effect of pre-treatment was more significant than post-treatment, at the same concentration. Limitations: The mechanisms of glutamine activated nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 antioxidant responsive element signaling pathway need further investigation. Conclusions: Glutamine enhances the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic capabilities of melanocytes and protects them against oxidative stress.