Skin melanocytes: biology and development
January 2013
in “Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii”
TLDR The paper concludes that understanding melanocyte development can help in insights into skin diseases and melanoma diversity.
The 2013 review paper discussed the biology and development of skin melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells originating from neural crest cells. It covered their life cycle, including differentiation, migration, proliferation, maturation, and cell death. The paper highlighted the distinct biological differences between epidermal and hair follicle melanocytes, with the latter being more sensitive to aging and active only during the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. It also described the molecular markers of melanocytes, melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, and the influence of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts on melanocyte biology. The review aimed to provide insights into skin diseases like melanoma and vitiligo by understanding melanocyte development, including the stages of melanosome development, the role of tyrosinase in melanogenesis, and the influence of various growth factors and signaling pathways on melanocyte development from neural crest cells. It also touched upon the embryonic origin of melanocytes and the potential locations of melanocyte stem cells in adults. Understanding the origins and development of melanocytes may offer insights into the heterogeneity of melanoma.
View this study on termedia.pl →
Cited in this study
research Melanocyte stem cells: a melanocyte reservoir in hair follicles for hair and skin pigmentation
Melanocyte stem cells in hair follicles are key for hair color and could help treat greying and pigment disorders.
research Human Hair Follicle and Epidermal Melanocytes Exhibit Striking Differences in Their Aging Profile which Involves Catalase
The study explored the differences in aging profiles between human hair follicle melanocytes (HFMs) and epidermal melanocytes (EMs), focusing on the role of catalase. It found that HFMs exhibited a more pronounced decline in proliferation and tyrosinase expression with age compared to EMs. Catalase expression and activity were significantly reduced in HFMs from older donors, leading to increased oxidative stress and accumulation of H2O2, which likely contributed to hair graying. The research suggested that the heightened susceptibility of HFMs to oxidative stress over time is a major factor in the loss of hair pigment and the increase in white hairs.
research The cell biology of human hair follicle pigmentation
The document highlighted the limited understanding of human hair follicle pigmentation regulation compared to the well-studied UVR-exposed epidermal-melanin unit. It pointed out that research has been hindered by gaps in knowledge about the hair growth cycle, which is closely linked to hair pigmentation. The author emphasized the need to focus on human follicular melanocytes rather than relying on mouse models, which may not accurately represent human conditions. The document raised important questions about the distinct nature of hair follicle and epidermal pigmentary units, the origin of melanomas, the existence of multiple follicular melanocyte sub-populations, and the sensitivity of follicular melanocytes to aging. The perspective aimed to elevate the importance of human hair follicle melanocytes and address species-specific issues often overlooked in pigmentation research.
research Prenatal hair development: Implications for drug exposure determination
The document reviewed the physiological development of hair follicles and hair production during fetal life, emphasizing the importance of understanding these mechanisms and their timing. This knowledge was crucial for accurately determining in utero drug exposure through toxicological analysis of neonatal hair, making neonatal hair a valuable matrix for such assessments.
research A rare repigmentation pattern in a vitiligo patient: a clue to an epidermal stem-cell reservoir of melanocytes?
research Androgens and hair growth
Androgens can both increase and decrease hair growth in different parts of the body.
research Expression patterns of MITF during human cutaneous embryogenesis: evidence for bulge epithelial expression and persistence of dermal melanoblasts
Melanocyte precursors in human fetal skin follow a specific migration pattern and some remain in the skin's deeper layers.
research Melanocytes: The new Black
Melanocytes are crucial for skin pigmentation and can affect conditions like melanoma, vitiligo, and albinism, as well as hair color and hearing.
research Hair Follicle Pigmentation
research Molecular Regulation of Melanocyte Senescence
The article concludes that while we understand a lot about how melanocytes age and how this can prevent cancer, there are still unanswered questions about certain pathways and genes involved.