Description
Epidermal melanocytes are melanin-producing cells that function as a protective mechanism from harmful UV rays. Melanoma has been associated to defects, dysfunction, or lack of melanocytes. Primary C57BL/6 mouse melanocytes have been derived and successfully immortalized with SV40 large T antigen. The Immortalized Mouse Melanocytes are hygromycin-resistant cells which expresses melanogenic markers (c-kit, Pax3, Sox10, and MITF-m), and are non-tumorigenic. The cells are a pool consisting of progenitor-like, intermediately-differentiated, and late-stage melanocytes. Individual clones are available: Immortalized Mouse Progenitor-Like Melanocytes (iMC23), Immortalized Mouse Intermediately Differentiated Melanoblasts (iMC65), and Immortalized Mouse Late Stage Melanocytes (iMC37). By culturing the cells in the presence of dexamethasone, differentiation occurs and yields mature melanocytes expressing HMB45 and tyrosinase. These cells are a valuable tool in melanocyte biology and molecular pathogenesis of pigment-related cell disorder studies