Primary melanocytes are specialized skin cells found mainly in the epidermis but may occur elsewhere in the body. Melanocytes produce the pigment melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanocytes isolated from the epidermis of human juvenile foreskin are valuable for skin culture research. Human adult melanocytes are useful in studies of adult human diseases.
Melanocytes protect skin from ultraviolet (UV) damage. Melanocytes are useful in research in pigmentation disorders, melanocyte senescence, and for the development of effective therapies for those disorders, especially malignant melanoma. Melanocytes are used in the in vitro study of wound healing and as testing models for toxicity and irritancy studies, melanoma, dermal response to UV radiation, psoriasis and other skin diseases, and cosmetic research (e.g., skin lightening compounds and skin protecting compounds).
Explore ATCC’s portfolio of melanocytes including normal cells, mouse melanocytes, mutant isogenic, and diseased products for your research.
Melanocytes for melanoma research
Melanomas derive from cells that secrete melanin, which is a pigment that, paradoxically, protects the body from ultra-violet light-induced DNA damage. ATCC has developed two melanoma cancer cell panels with varying degrees of genetic complexity, representing both primary and metastatic tumors. To investigate genetic abnormalities in the context of your gene of interest and other tissues, ATCC also offers panels of cell lines organized by genetic alteration.
Skin Cancer Panels
