We are now showing that cultured human melanoma cells can synthesize steroids such as corticosterone from progesterone or deoxycorticosterone. Corticosterone production is strongly responsive to deoxycorticosterone substrate addition (12-fold increase), but unresponsive to the adrenal stimulating factors ACTH and angiotensin II. This is the first demonstration that skin cells (malignant melanocytes) have the capability to synthesize 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
