Beta-carotene uptake and bioconversion to retinol differ between human melanocytes and keratinocytes. |
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Authors: | E Andersson A Vahlquist I Rosdahl |
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Affiliation: | Division of Dermatology, Department of Biomedicine and Surgery, Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Link?ping University, Link?ping, Sweden. eva.andersson@kfc.liu.se |
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Abstract: | beta-Carotene is one of the carotenoids that has been considered to play a role in the natural defense against ultraviolet-induced skin cancer. It is not known whether epidermal cells are able to accumulate beta-carotene and, subsequently, convert it to vitamin A. We used normal cultured human keratinocytes and melanocytes to study the uptake, and possible bioconversion to retinol, of authentic or [14C]beta-carotene. The uptake was much higher in melanocytes than in keratinocytes, corresponding to a fivefold difference in the intracellular fraction after two days of incubation. An increased level of cellular retinol was noted after one day of beta-carotene incubation. The conversion of [14C]beta-carotene to [14C]retinol peaked at 24 hours of incubation in keratinocytes and melanocytes. The results suggest that beta-carotene can function as a local supply of vitamin A in the skin and that melanocytes are especially likely to store beta-carotene. |
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