TRPA1 promotes melanosome phagocytosis in keratinocytes via PAR-2/CYLD axis

Keratinocytes are recipients of melanosomes. Although the chemical basis of melanogenesis is well documented, the molecular mechanism of melanosome transfer must be elucidated. TRPA1 is a member of the transient receptor potential A subfamily. Previous studies have shown that inhibition of TRPA1 activity reduces melanin synthesis in human epidermal melanocytes; however, the mechanism remains unknown.

This study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanism(s) of action of TRPA1 in keratinocytes.

The correlation between TRPA1 expression levels and the ability of keratinocytes to phagocytize melanosomes was examined using melanin silver staining. TRPA1 depleted human epidermal keratinocytes and keratinocyte cell lines HaCaT were established using adenovirus-expressing shRNAs against TRPA1. The effects of TRPA1 on keratinocytes and HaCaT cells were determined using cell-based analyses, including light stimulation, calcium imaging, melanin phagocytosis, immunoblotting, and co-immunoprecipitation assays. The degree of epidermal pigmentation was determined in a guinea pig model.

TRPA1 mediated the phagocytic activity of keratinocytes. TRPA1 knockdown markedly suppressed melanosome transport to keratinocytes. Mechanistically, TRPA1 was required for PAR-2-induced melanosome phagocytosis in keratinocytes. Furthermore, TRPA1 activation indirectly stabilized microtubules by promoting the competitive binding of CYLD and acetylated α-tubulin. In addition, bortezomib (PS-341), a proteasome inhibitor, increased TRPA1 and CYLD expression and promoted phagocytic activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Our findings firstly suggest that TRPA1 promotes melanosome transport in keratinocytes and reveal that TRPA1 is a regulator of PAR-2 activation and microtubule stability via the PAR-2/CYLD axis.