Melanocytes as "Sensory" and Regulatory Cells in the Epidermis

Epidermal melanocytes (MC) are pigment-producing and secretorily active cells of neural crest origin that communicate directly with multiple targets. Here, we propose that normal epidermal MC also are "sensory"∥ and regulatory cells operating in the context of a regulatory network for the maintenance of human epidermal homeostasis. Altered regulatory MC functions may play a role in selected skin diseases, and racial pigmentation may affect cutaneous functions.