l-tyrosine induces melanocyte differentiation in novel pink-eyed dilution castaneus mouse mutant showing age-related pigmentation

•A novel spontaneous mutation (mouse) showing progressive darkening of eyes and coats occurred from pink-eyed castaneus (pink eyes and beige coats) mutation, Oca2p-cas.•The differentiation of black-eyed melanocytes was greatly induced by l-tyrosine.•The expression of Mitf was stimulated only in black-eyed melanocytes.•The age-related coat darkening may be caused by the increased activity of melanocyte differentiation dependent on l-Tyr through upregulation of Mitf.

BackgroundThe mouse pink-eyed dilution (oculocutaneous albinism II; p/Oca2p) locus is known to control tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and melanosome development in melanocytes. Pink-eyed dilution castaneus (pcas/Oca2p−cas) is a novel mutant allele on mouse chromosome 7 that arose spontaneously in Indonesian wild mice, Mus musculus castaneus. Mice homozygous for Oca2p−cas usually exhibit pink eyes and beige-colored coat on nonagouti C57BL/6 (B6) background. Recently, a novel spontaneous mutation occurred in the progeny between this mutant and B6 mice. The eyes of this novel mutant progressively become black from pink and the coat becomes dark gray from beige with aging.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to clarify whatever differences exist in melanocyte proliferation and differentiation between the ordinary (pink-eyed) and novel (black-eyed) mutant using serum-free primary culture system.MethodsThe characteristics of melanocyte proliferation and differentiation were investigated by serum-free primary culture system using melanocyte-proliferation medium (MDMD).ResultsThe proliferation of melanoblasts in MDMD did not differ between the two mice. However, when the epidermal cell suspensions were cultured with MDMD supplemented with l-tyrosine (Tyr), the differentiation of black-eyed melanocytes was greatly induced in a concentration-dependent manner compared with pink-eyed melanocytes. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (Tyrp1) was greatly induced or stimulated both in pink-eyed and black-eyed melanocytes, whereas the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) was stimulated only in black-eyed melanocytes.ConclusionThese results suggest that the age-related coat darkening in black-eyed mutant may be caused by the increased ability of melanocyte differentiation dependent on l-Tyr through the upregulation of tyrosinase, Tyrp1, and Mitf. This mutant mouse may be useful for animal model to clarify the mechanisms of age-related pigmentation in human skin, such as melasma and solar lentigines.