Neuroendocrinology of the Skin1
Abstract
The classical observations of the skin as a target for melanotropins have been complemented by the discovery of their actual production at the local level. In fact, all of the elements controlling the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis are expressed in the skin including CRH, urocortin, and POMC, with its products ACTH, α-MSH, and β-endorphin. Demonstration of the corresponding receptors in the same cells suggests para- or autocrine mechanisms of action. These findings, together with the demonstration of cutaneous production of numerous other hormones including vitamin D3, PTH-related protein (PTHrP), catecholamines, and acetylcholine that share regulation by environmental stressors such as UV light, underlie a role for these agents in the skin response to stress. The endocrine mediators with their receptors are organized into dermal and epidermal units that allow precise control of their activity in a field-restricted manner. The skin neuroendocrine system communicates with itself and with the systemic level through humoral and neural pathways to induce vascular, immune, or pigmentary changes, to directly buffer noxious agents or neutralize the elicited local reactions. Therefore, we suggest that the skin neuroendocrine system acts by preserving and maintaining the skin structural and functional integrity and, by inference, systemic homeostasis.
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Mammalian skin expresses all regulatory elements of the HPA axis, including POMC-derived peptides, CRH and related peptides, and their functional receptors.
“Since all regulatory elements of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland (HPA) axis, including proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides [129], CRH and related peptides as well as the corresponding functional receptors [130, 131] are expressed in mammalian skin, the concept that skin expresses a homologue of the HPA was introduced 15 years ago [2, 73, 132].”
From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Slominski, A., & Wortsman, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center (US)
- SIU Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Slominski, Andrzej
- ORCID
- Slominski, Andrzej
- Venue
- Endocrine Reviews
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2000-10-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 457-487
- ISSN
- 0163-769X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7189
- OpenAlex
- W2162313395
- Cited by
- 727
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 1.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Endocrine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, urocortin, proopiomelanocortin, ACTH, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, beta-endorphin, vitamin D3, PTH-related protein, catecholamines, acetylcholine, ultraviolet radiation, stress response, skin pigmentation, skin immunity, autocrine and paracrine signaling, systemic homeostasis
- MeSH terms
- Homeostasis, Hormones, Humans, Neurosecretory Systems, Skin, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Vitamin D, Signal Transduction, Neurotransmitter Agents
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