Role of serotonin in melanogenesis in the skin

Abstract

Pigmentation of the skin may result from increased production of melanin which includes melanocyte proliferation, melanin biosynthesis or melanocyte migration. Several factors affect the process of melanin production, but the role of serotonin is not clear in this process. Recently, we found that serotonin affected several steps in melanogenesis of melanocytes and melanomas leading to increased melanin production. Usually serotonin exerts several effects through serotonin receptors and we found that the serotonin receptor 2A is involved in melanogenesis using gene silencing techniques as well as a serotonin receptor 2A agonist and serotonin receptor 2A antagonists. Several pigmentary disorders including vitiligo or melasma are still problems in the field of dermatology. So, control of these pigmentary disorders is needed and our findings suggest that a serotonin receptor 2A agonist might be useful for the treatment of vitiligo and an antagonist might be helpful for melasma. © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.