Racial Differences in the Fate of Melanosomes in Human Epidermis

@article{Szab1969RacialDI,
  title={Racial Differences in the Fate of Melanosomes in Human Epidermis},
  author={George Szab{\'o} and ANTONIA B. Gerald and Madhu A. Pathak and Thomas B. Fitzpatrick},
  journal={Nature},
  year={1969},
  volume={222},
  pages={1081-1082}
}
MELANIN pigment in the skin is located in a very small granule, the melanosome1, which is barely visible in the light microscope. This melanosome is formed in the melanocyte and is transferred into the keratinizing or malpighian cell2. 
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255 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
4
Background Citations
67
Results Citations
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255 Citations

Shining a Light on Black Holes in Keratinocytes.
Regulation of UV induced apoptosis in human melanocytes
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The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing faster than any other type of skin cancer and the number of new cases is expected to increase in the coming years.
Melanin Pigmentation: An in vivo Model for Studies of Melanosome Kinetics within Keratinocytes
TLDR
The phagocytosis of latex beads by epidermal cells is proposed as a model for stludies on melanosome kinetics within the epidermis, results showing that the uptake mechanism depends on the size of indlividual particles.
Melanin and melanocytes
Melanins are a group of black, brown, red or yellow pigments, found in practically all living organisms, including bacteria, fungi and higher plants (Prota, 1980). In man, melanin is produced largely…
Melanin transfer and fate within keratinocytes in human skin pigmentation.
TLDR
The current understanding of the transfer, nature of the pigmented organelles within keratinocytes, and the mechanism governing their intracellular positioning are detailed and presented as a guideline for future experimentation in this area.
The giant melanosome: a model of deranged melanosome-morphogenesis.
The patterns of melanosome distribution in keratinocytes of human skin as one determining factor of skin colour
TLDR
It has been shown that melanin content, melanin composition and the size of melanosomes in the human epidermis vary considerably with both ethnicity and chronic sun exposure.
Alteration of racial differences in melanosome distribution in human epidermis after exposure to ultraviolet light.
TLDR
The colour of skin in the various races is apparently due to variations in the number of melanin granules, or melanosomes, in the melanocytes and in the epidermal keratinocytes, as well as to the degree of melanization of the individual melanosome.
[Principles of skin pigmentation. Biochemistry and regulation of melanogenesis].
  • M. Brenner, C. Berking
  • Biology, Medicine
    Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete
  • 2010
TLDR
Understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of melanogenesis is the basis for modifications of skin pigmentation which are of great interest pharmaceutically and cosmeceutically.
The physiology of melanin deposition in health and disease.
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References

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The Skin of the Australian Aborigine; A Light and Electronmicroscopical Study
Aboriginal melanocytes were greater in number, histochemically more active, and contained larger melanosomes than Caucasian melanocytes.
Chemical Composition and Terminology Of Specialized Organelles (Melanosomes and Melanin Granules) in Mammalian Melanocytes
A fine-structure study of the human epidermal melanosome complex and its acid phosphatase activity.
Study of pigment donation in vitro.