The melanocyte stem cells of the hair follicle provide an attractive system for the study of the stem cells. Successful regeneration of a functional organ relies on the organized and timely orchestration of molecular events among distinct stem/progenitor cell populations. The stem cells are regulated by communication with their specialized microenvironment known as the niche. Despite remarkable...

PURPOSE Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), an autoimmune disease targeted against melanocytes, is associated with HLA-DRB1*0405. This study was undertaken to analyze T-cell recognition and the cytokine expression profile induced by melanocyte epitopes in HLA-DRB1*0405-positive and -negative patients with VKH uveitis. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation and Th1 (IF...

What is the cellular origin of melanoma? What role do melanocyte stem cells (MSC) and other melanocyte precursors play in the development of melanoma? Are MSCs and other latent melanocyte precursors more susceptible to solar radiation? These and many other questions can be very effectively addressed using the zebrafish model. Zebrafish have a robust regenerative capability, permitting the study...

Four functions characterize the melanocyte: the synthesis of melanin granules; the growth and maintenance of dendrites; the translocation of melanin granules within the cytoplasm in response to hormones or neurotransmitters; the transfer of melanin granules to adjacent cells that have phagocytic capacities. The melanocyte of the amphibian epidermis exhibits all of these functions and thus is id...

Melanocytes that lack the GTPase Rab27a (ashen) are disabled in myosin Va-dependent melanosome capture because the association of the myosin with the melanosome surface depends on the presence of this resident melanosomal membrane protein. One interpretation of these observations is that Rab27a functions wholly or in part as the melanosome receptor for myosin Va (Myo5a). Herein, we show that th...

Vitiligo is an acquired cutaneous depigmentation disorder which has a deleterious effect on the psychosexual function of many individuals; the genitalia are the common site for depigmentation. Here, the authors report two cases of focal vitiligo affecting the scrotum of the genital organs which were successfully treated by autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation. Autologous cultured mela...

Increased expression of the cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ plays a pivotal role in vitiligo-induced depigmentation. However, the major source of IFN-γ in vitiligo patients and the mechanisms underlying melanocyte destruction are unknown. In this study, a large number of skin infiltrating IFN-γ+ cells and CD8+ T cells were detected in progressive vitiligo. Among the peripheral blood mononuclear cel...