The “follicular-melanin unit” is residing in the “immune privileged” proximal hair bulb [3]. This follicular-melanin unit consists of one melanocyte for every five keratinocytes in the hair bulb as a whole; the ratio is 1:1 in the basal epithelial layer next to the dermal papilla [4]. Hair bulb melanogenic melanocytes differ from epidermal melanocytes in being larger, with longer and more exten...

DICER is a central regulator of microRNA maturation. However, little is known about mechanisms regulating its expression in development or disease. While profiling miRNA expression in differentiating melanocytes, two populations were observed: some upregulated at the pre-miRNA stage, and others upregulated as mature miRNAs (with stable pre-miRNA levels). Conversion of pre-miRNAs to fully proces...

The immune system can recognize differentiation antigens that are selectively expressed on malignant cells and their normal cell counterparts. However, it is uncertain whether immunity to differentiation antigens can effectively lead to tumor rejection. The mouse brown locus protein, gp75 or tyrosinase-related protein 1, is a melanocyte differentiation antigen expressed by melanomas and normal ...

Pigmentation of mammalian hairs is mediated by specialized pigment-producing cells referred as melanocytes. Hair pigmentation is tightly linked with hair regeneration cycles, where melanocytes proliferate and differentiate during the hair growth phase, but depleted by apoptosis during the regression phase. This periodical appearance of melanocytes is maintained by a small pool of immature stem ...

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common neoplasm in the Caucasian population. Only a fraction of BCC exhibits pigmentation. Lack of melanocyte colonization has been suggested to be due to p53-inactivating mutations in the BCC cells interfering with the p53-proopiomelanocortin pathway and the production of alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the tumor. To evaluate this, we determined t...

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease mediated by autoreactive T cells that destroy epidermal melanocytes, causing depigmentation. Current treatments, e.g. corticosteroids or UV light therapy, have limited efficacy with inconsistent repigmentation in many patients. Some emerging therapies, JAK inhibitors, show promising activity but carry potential systemic safety risks. Tissue-restricted immu...

Peptides of the pro-opiocortin class produce pronounced cardiovascular and natriuretic actions. We have investigated the acute cardiovascular effects of one of the most potent members of this class, y2-melanocyte stimulating hormone (y2-MSH), in rats. Pressor actions of y2MSH administered systemicaMy were eliminated by ganglionic blockade with chlorisondamine. Peripheral cholinergic blockade fa...

Melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells, arise from multipotent neural crest (NC) cells during embryogenesis. Many genes required for melanocyte development were identified using mouse pigmentation mutants. The variable spotting mouse pigmentation mutant arose spontaneously at the Jackson Laboratory. We identified a G-to-A nucleotide transition in exon 3 of the Ets1 gene in variable spotting, ...

Adult stem cells are responsible for maintaining and repairing tissues during the life of an organism. Tissue repair in humans, however, is limited compared to the regenerative capabilities of other vertebrates, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio). An understanding of stem cell mechanisms, such as how they are established, their self-renewal properties, and their recruitment to produce new cell...