Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2020, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (8): 658-660.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20190198

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Role of melanocores in melanin transfer and degradation

Geng Qingwei, Song Xiuzu   

  1. Department of Dermatology, The Third People′s Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou 310009, China
  • Received:2019-01-07 Revised:2019-07-05 Online:2020-08-15 Published:2020-07-31
  • Contact: Song Xiuzu E-mail:songxiuzu@sina.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(81872517); Zhejiang Basic Public Welfare Research Project(LGF18H110001); Hangzhou Science and Technology Planning Project(20130733Q24)

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Skin color is regulated by the change of melanin. Previous studies have shown that there are 4 modes of melanin transfer, including exocytosis-endocytosis, shedding-phagocytosis, cell phagocytosis and membrane fusion, and melanosomes are the main carrier of melanin transfer. Recent studies have shown that melanocores depending on the exocytosis-endocytosis pathway play an important role in melanin transfer. This review summarizes the melanocyte exocytosis and keratinocyte endocytosis processes in melanocore transfer, as well as the melanocore degradation process in keratinocytes after melanocore transfer, providing a new therapeutic direction for refractory pigmented diseases.

Key words: Melanosomes, Melanocytes, Keratinocytes, Endocytosis, Melanocore