Abstract
Melanocytes are distinctive cells in the basal layer of the epidermis, the choroid of the eye, certain mucous membranes, and the leptomeninges. Melanocytes arise during embryonal development from pluripotent cells migrating out of the neural crest. Functional maturation, i.e., the process by which cells express specific properties characteristic of the cell type, may progress in melanocytes through several, as yet undefined, stages (Fig. 1). Precursor cells for melanocytes (premelanocytes or melanoblasts) have been identified in human skin1, but these cells have been only preliminarily characterized. The phenotypic and functional characteristics of melanocytes are: a) melanin synthesis through the action of the tyrosinase enzyme; b) dendritic morphology; c) pigment donation to surrounding keratinocytes and d) no detectable proliferation in situ. Despite the undetectable proliferation, a stable 5–6:1 ratio between basal keratinocytes and melanocytes is maintained throughout the life of an individual suggesting a constant renewal of melanocytes.
These studies were supported in part by grants from the NIH, CA-25874, CA-44877, and from the Herzog Foundation.
To whom requests for reprints and all correspondence should be addressed, at The Wistar Institute, 36th Street at Spruce, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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Abbreviations
- alpha-MSH:
-
alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone
- bFGF:
-
basic fibroblast growth factor; BPE, bovine pituitary extract
- CFE:
-
colony forming efficiency
- EGF:
-
epidermal growth factor
- FCS:
-
fetal calf serum
- FSH:
-
follicle stimulating hormone
- IBMX:
-
isobutyl methyl xanthine
- IGF:
-
insulin-like growth factor
- MAb:
-
monoclonal antibody
- MGF:
-
melanocyte growth factor
- MSGA:
-
melanocyte-stimulating growth activity
- NGF:
-
nerve growth factor
- PDGF:
-
platelet derived growth factor
- RGP:
-
radial growth phase
- TPA:
-
12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate
- VGP:
-
vertical growth phase
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© 1991 Plenum Press, New York
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Valyi-Nagy, I., Rodeck, U., Kath, R., Mancianti, M.L., Clark, W.H., Herlyn, M. (1991). The Human Melanocyte System as a Model for Studies on Tumor Progression. In: Sudilovsky, O., Pitot, H.C., Liotta, L.A. (eds) Boundaries between Promotion and Progression during Carcinogenesis. Basic Life Sciences, vol 57. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5994-4_26
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