Loss of Epidermal Melanin Unit Integrity in Human Skin During Melanoma Genesis

April 2022 in “ Frontiers in oncology ”

Cristina Casalou, Hugo Moreiras, Jay M. Mayatra, Aurélie Fabre, Desmond J. Tobin

melanoma melanocyte epidermal-melanin unit follicular-melanin units melanomagenesis vitiligo albinism psoriasis alopecia areata skin cancer skin pigment cells EMU FMU melanoma development skin depigmentation lack of pigment skin inflammation patchy hair loss

TLDR Melanoma development can be linked to the breakdown of skin's melanin-producing units.

This review examines the early stages of melanoma development, focusing on the diversity of tumor fates that can arise from the melanocyte lineage and the influence of their maturation status and micro-environmental niche. It discusses how the integrity of the epidermal-melanin unit (EMU) can be compromised, potentially leading to melanoma, and contrasts this with the protective features of follicular-melanin units (FMUs) against melanomagenesis. Additionally, the review explores how the varied fates of melanocytes in conditions like vitiligo, albinism, psoriasis, and alopecia areata may offer insights into the outcomes for melanocytes in skin melanin units, both immune- and non-immune-mediated.

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