Year: 2024 | Month: September | Volume: 14 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 239-245
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240931
Antioxidant Properties of Melanocytes and their Potential Implication in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Gayeong Kim
Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, Hoengseong, South Korea
ABSTRACT
Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the cellular antioxidant defense system, leads to significant cellular damage. When the body’s detoxification mechanisms are overwhelmed, ROS can inflict damage on lipids, proteins, and DNA, resulting in harms in the cells. Antioxidants neutralize these ROS by converting H₂O₂ into water and oxygen, thereby mitigating oxidative damage. Oxidative stress is prominently associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Increased oxidative damage markers have been observed in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigates the potential antioxidant properties of melanocytes, pigment-producing cells as a model to understand ROS-induced damage and its relevance to neurological disorders. Using ROS measurement, cell viability assay, and catalase activity tests, this study demonstrated that melanocytes exhibit significant resistance to ROS. Melanocytes maintained higher catalase activity and cell viability compared to T-MSCs under oxidative stress conditions. These findings suggest that melanocytes possess robust mechanisms for mitigating ROS-induced damage, making them a valuable model for exploring oxidative stress-related neurological disorders.
Key words: Melanocytes, Reactive Oxygen Species, Oxidative Stress, Catalase, Neurodegenerative Disorders