Figure 5.

Keratinocyte-derived estradiol protects melanocytes against the oxidative stress. (a) In vitro, cultured human primary skin epidermal melanocytes were transiently transfected with Hhsd17β1 siRNA at the indicated concentration. Twenty-four hours after transfection, mRNA expression levels were evaluated by real-time PCR analysis. (b) Forty-eight hours after transfection, protein expression levels of HSD17β1 were evaluated by Western blotting. (c) Forty-eight hours after transfection, 17β-estradiol levels in the culture medium were evaluated by ELISA assay. (d) Co-culture system of HEKn and HEMn-MPs. After co-culture and the indicated treatment, cell morphology (e) and cell viability (f) were evaluated by bright microscopy and MTT assay, white bar in (e), 100 µm. Data represent the results of three independent experiments. Data are shown as means ± SD. *** p < 0.01; n.s., no significant difference.