Pigmented human skin equivalent—as a model of the mechanisms of control of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions (original) (raw)

The melanin pigment system in human skin is extraordinarty welt developed and assures the photoprotection of the skin against harmful solar radiation. Specific cellcell interactions between one melanocytes and keratinocytes play a fundamental role in the regulation of melanogenesis and melanin pigementation, the two key elements of this system, giving rise to the concept of a structural, functional collaborative 'epidermal melanin unit,' Early experiments strongly suggested that melanocyte growth and differentiation are regulated by paracrine factors from keratinocytes and other skin cells. In addition, co-culture studies with keratinocytes has shown that the extracellular matrix acts as a local environmental signal for dendrite formation and melanogenesis. Attempts to reconstruct pigmented human skin in vitro have made great progress over the fast decade.