Chemical process responsible for skin darkening reveals potential strategies for skin cancer prevention

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, have uncovered a skin pigmentation mechanism that naturally protects against UV-associated cancers.

The study, published in the prestigious journal Cell and accessible via the DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.022, reveals that the topical application of small molecule inhibitors of NNT, an enzyme found in the mitochondria, results in skin darkening in human skin.

The amount of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour, is in large part regulated by NNT. By understanding its role, researchers were able to mimic the natural protection that exists in people with darker pigments, gaining a fuller understanding of the biochemical mechanism involved.

This discovery could potentially lead to a new approach for skin darkening and protection, improving skin cancer prevention strategies and offering effective new treatment options for pigmentary disorders.

Dr. David Fisher, a professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the director of both the Cutaneous Biology Research Center and Melanoma Center at MGH, led the research team. He was joined by Dr. Elisabeth Roider, an attending physician in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, and a visiting scientist at the Cutaneous Biology Research Center at MGH.

The team found that mice with decreased NNT function displayed increased fur pigmentation, suggesting a direct link between the enzyme and skin pigmentation. This finding is particularly significant as people with the fairest and lightest skin are at highest risk of developing skin cancers due to their lack of natural protection.

The skin with darker pigments is protected from DNA damage inflicted by ultraviolet rays. This is due to the light-scattering and antioxidant properties of melanin, which provide a natural barrier against harmful UV radiation.

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, MGH was founded in 1811 and was ranked #6 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals" in August 2020. The hospital's research arm, the MGH Research Institute, conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with annual research operations exceeding $1 billion. More than 9,500 researchers work across over 30 institutes, centers, and departments at the MGH Research Institute.

This discovery marks a significant step forward in our understanding of skin pigmentation and its role in cancer prevention. The potential for new treatments and prevention strategies is exciting, and further research will be crucial in unlocking the full potential of this discovery.

Chemical process responsible for skin darkening reveals potential strategies for skin cancer prevention