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...

Background: Retinal G-protein–coupled receptor opsin (RGR) functions as a photoisomerase that convert the all-trans-retinal to 11-cis-retinal in human retinal pigmented epithelium. Our research and others have demonstrated opsin-based UVR phototransduction system existed skin. However, whether RGR is expressed skin has not yet been identified. Objective: To determine expression, distribution su...

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...

The mouse microphthalmia (Mitf) gene encodes a basic-helix-loop-helix-zipper transcription factor whose mutations are associated with abnormalities in neuroepithelial and neural crest-derived melanocytes. In wild type embryos, Mitf expression in neuropithelium and neural crest precedes that of the melanoblast marker Dct, is then co-expressed with Dct, and gradually fades away except in cells in...

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...

Stripe rust of wheat, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most important diseases of wheat worldwide. This review presents basic and recent information on the epidemiology of stripe rust, changes in pathogen virulence and population structure, and movement of the pathogen in the United States and around the world. The impact and causes of recent epidemics in the United ...

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...

The Kit receptor tyrosine kinase is required by vertebrate melanocytes for their migration and survival. The relationship between these developmental roles of Kit, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we use two genetic approaches to demonstrate that Kit's roles in the migration and survival of embryonic melanocytes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) are temporally and functionally independent...

Generalized vitiligo (GV) is characterized by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes by skinhoming cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) that target melanocyte autoantigens. Two recent genomewide association studies (GWAS) of GV in European-derived whites (EUR) have demonstrated genetic association with GZMB, encoding granzyme B, a marker of activated CTLs that mediates targetcell apoptosis, as well as autoa...