Spatial and temporal localization of the melanocortin I receptor and its ligand a--melanocyte-stimulating hormone during cutaneous wound repair

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Study investigated the role of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and its ligand a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH) in the regulation of inflammatory and fibroproliferative responses to cutaneous injury. Specifically, the authors report the localization of the MC1R/a-MSH signaling in murine cutaneous wounds, human acute burns, and hypertrophic scars. During murine wound repair, MC1R and a-MSH were detected in inflammatory cells and suprabasal keratinocytes at the leading edge of the migrating epithelial tongue. MC1R and a-MSH protein levels were upregulated in human burn wounds and hypertrophic scars compared to uninjured human skin, where receptor and ligand were absent. In burn wounds and hypertrophic scars, MC1R and a-MSH localized to epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. This spatiotemporal localization of MC1R and a-MSH in cutaneous wounds warrants future investigation into the role of MC1R/a-MSH signaling in the inflammatory and fibroproliferative responses to cutaneous injury.

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