Melanocytes are neural crest-derived cells that produce melanin via melanogenesis. Melanocytes localize to several tissues including the epidermis, eye, inner ear and leptomeninges. Dysregulation of melanocyte migration, proliferation, or survival during embryonic development thus causes congenital disorders in those tissues as seen in Tietz syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, and piebaldism [1]. In the bottom layer of skin epidermis, melanocytes synthesize and transfer dark-colored melanin to surrounding keratinocytes to give skin pigmentation. Melanin also blocks UV-B light to protect the hypodermis from solar exposure-induced photodamage. Progress in culture techniques, along with an improved understanding of melanocyte biology, has led to a successful culture system to model melanomas, inner ear homeostasis, vitiligo, and mitochondrial dysfunction in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [2-4].
Human Epidermal Melanocytes-medium (HEM-m) are isolated from neonatal human skin and cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen.
Each vial contains 500 000 cells in 1 ml volume.
HEM-m are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to fibronectin and NGF-receptor (p75).
HEM-m are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
HEM-m are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.
Recommended Medium
It is recommended touse Melanocyte Medium (MelM, Cat. no. SC2201) for culturing HEM-m in vitro.
Product Use
HEM-m are for research use only. They are not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.
Storage
Upon receiving, directly and immediately transfer the cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until they are needed for experiments.
Shipping
Dry ice.
References
[1] Li J, Song JS, Bell RJ, Tran TN, Haq R, Liu H, Love KT, Langer R, Anderson DG, Larue L, Fisher DE.(2012) "YY1 regulates melanocyte development and function by cooperating with MITF." PLoS Genet. 8:e1002688.
[2] Neng L, Zhang F, Kachelmeier A, Shi X.(2013) "Endothelial cell, pericyte, and perivascular resident macrophage-type melanocyte interactions regulate cochlear intrastrial fluid-blood barrier permeability." J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 14:175-85.
[3] Elassiuty YE, Klarquist J, Speiser J, Yousef RM, El Refaee AA, Hunter NS, Shaker OG, Gundeti M, Nieuweboer-Krobotova L, Le Poole IC.(2011) "Heme oxygenase-1 expression protects melanocytes from stress-induced cell death: implications for vitiligo." Exp Dermatol. 20:496-501.
[4] Pellegrini C, Zulian A, Gualandi F, Manzati E, Merlini L, Michelini ME, Benassi L, Marmiroli S, Ferlini A, Sabatelli P, Bernardi P, Maraldi NM.(2013) "Melanocytes--a novel tool to study mitochondrial dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy." J Cell Physiol. 228:1323-31.