The Biology of Melanocytes
TLDR Melanocytes are cells that make skin and hair color and help protect skin from sun damage.
Melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells derived from the neuroectoderm, play a crucial role in skin and hair pigmentation and cutaneous homeostasis. These cells, which have a dendritic morphology, migrate to the epidermis and follicles during embryonic development, and exhibit almost unlimited self-renewal capacity, enabling them to continually recolor the skin and hair. They produce melanin, which protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage. The regulation of cutaneous pigmentation involves a complex network and is determined by both intrinsic cellular factors within the melanocytes and extracellular signals. Understanding the role of melanocytes in skin biology could open up new research opportunities for preventing and treating skin diseases.
