Study on Effects of TNF-α on Human Epidermis Melanin Cell Proliferation and Melanin Synthesis

Objective Establishing the cultured system of human normal melanocytes in vitro,and studying effects of TNF-α on cultured human melanocytes.Methods MTT method,NaOH assay were employed to measure the rate of proliferation,melanin synthesis of melanocytes respectively;apoptosis rates of melanocytes were detected by using flow cytometer.Results TNF-α showed a significant decrease of the rate of melanocyte proliferation in concentration and time-dependent manner,inhibited melanin synthesis and increased melanocyte apoptosis.Conclusion It suggests that TNF-α at the concentration of 50-200 ng/ml is able to suppress melanocytic proliferation and melanin synthesis.It may be developed to be a potential skin lightening agent and worth to study later.