Biomaterial Database

Neural differentiation of melanocytes in vitiliginous skin. 1988

B Iyengar, and R S Misra

Institute of Pathology, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Biopsies from 74 cases of vitiligo were examined to study the reactions of marginal melanocytes. In 35 cases, the melanocytes at the edge of the patch appeared highly dendritic and large with marked arborization of the dendrites between the surrounding epidermal cells. These cells showed low pigmentation but a high enzyme activity which extended along the dendrites. The enzymes include tyrosinase/dopa oxidase, dopamine oxidase and noradrenaline activity, indicating that these cells have a biphasic melanogenic/adrenergic differentiation. This similarity between the dendritic melanocytes and the amelanotic melanoma cell line HT-18 is of interest.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D003713	Dendritic Cells	Specialized cells of the hematopoietic system that have branch-like extensions. They are found throughout the lymphatic system, and in non-lymphoid tissues such as SKIN and the epithelia of the intestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts. They trap and process ANTIGENS, and present them to T-CELLS, thereby stimulating CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY. They are different from the non-hematopoietic FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS, which have a similar morphology and immune system function, but with respect to humoral immunity (ANTIBODY PRODUCTION).	Dendritic Cells, Interdigitating,Interdigitating Cells,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells,Veiled Cells,Dendritic Cells, Interstitial,Dendritic Cells, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Dendritic Cells,Interstitial Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dendritic,Cell, Interdigitating,Cell, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cell, Interstitial Dendritic,Cell, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cell, Veiled,Cells, Dendritic,Cells, Interdigitating,Cells, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cells, Interstitial Dendritic,Cells, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cells, Veiled,Dendritic Cell,Dendritic Cell, Interdigitating,Dendritic Cell, Interstitial,Dendritic Cell, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Cell,Interdigitating Dendritic Cell,Interstitial Dendritic Cell,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell,Veiled Cell
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D014442	Monophenol Monooxygenase	An enzyme of the oxidoreductase class that catalyzes the reaction between L-tyrosine, L-dopa, and oxygen to yield L-dopa, dopaquinone, and water. It is a copper protein that acts also on catechols, catalyzing some of the same reactions as CATECHOL OXIDASE. EC 1.14.18.1.	Dopa Oxidase,Phenoloxidase,Tyrosinase,Cresolase,Phenol Oxidase,Phenoloxidase A,Phenoloxidase B,Monooxygenase, Monophenol,Oxidase, Dopa,Oxidase, Phenol
D014820	Vitiligo	A disorder consisting of areas of macular depigmentation, commonly on extensor aspects of extremities, on the face or neck, and in skin folds. Age of onset is often in young adulthood and the condition tends to progress gradually with lesions enlarging and extending until a quiescent state is reached.