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Pigment Cells: From Biology to Medicine
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Pigment Cells: From Biology to Medicine

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 1242

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jakub Rok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Interests: lomefloxacin; melanoma; oxidative stress; DNA fragmentation; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cells producing pigments have been central to scientists’ interests for years due to their biological functions and importance in medicine. Among the best-known pigmented cells are melanocytes. These specialized cells, which are mainly found in the basal layer of the epidermis, are responsible for the synthesis and epidermal distribution of the biopolymer melanin. Due to their location, cytophysiology, and biochemical characteristics, melanocytes are extremely important for maintaining skin homeostasis due to their photoprotective function and influence on redox balance. However, the exposure of melanocytes to harmful factors contributes to disturbances in their function and the induction of permanent damage. This can result in pigmentary disorders, carcinogenesis, melanoma development, and more. It should also be noted that melanin is produced outside the skin, including by retinal epithelial cells in the eyes and by some neurons in the central nervous system. This Special Issue focuses on presenting the latest discoveries regarding pigmented cells and their functions in physiological and pathophysiological states.

Dr. Jakub Rok
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • melanin
  • melanocyte
  • melanogenesis
  • melanoma
  • melanosome
  • neuromelanin
  • photoprotection
  • oxidative stress
  • phototoxicity
  • pigmentation disorders
  • drug–melanin complexes
  • skin cancer
  • UV radiation
  • retinal pigment epithelium

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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16 pages, 4126 KiB  
Article
Physicochemical Characterization, Skin Penetration, Anti-Melanogenesis and Safety Assessment of Flavokawain C Nanofibers
by Pamela Berilyn So, Ying-Chu Wang, Pao-Hsien Huang, Tzu-Hui Wu and Feng-Lin Yen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 2966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26072966 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 254
Abstract
Various whitening cosmetics are available in the market, usually containing active whitening ingredients. However, most of the reported active ingredients have low dermal penetration due to their lipophilic structure. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective whitening agents and novel formulations to address [...] Read more.
Various whitening cosmetics are available in the market, usually containing active whitening ingredients. However, most of the reported active ingredients have low dermal penetration due to their lipophilic structure. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective whitening agents and novel formulations to address this. In previous studies, natural compounds such as chalcones have shown inhibitory effects on tyrosinase. However, most chalcone compounds have the disadvantage of poor water solubility, which restricts their dermal absorption. Flavokawain C (FKC) is a natural chalcone obtained from the root of the kava tree (Piper methysticum) and can also be obtained through organic synthesis. Since FKC is a chalcone, it is also water-insoluble, showing poor dermal absorption. In this study, electrospinning technology was used to develop FKC nanofibers (FKCNFs) to improve FKC’s physicochemical properties. The results showed that FKCNFs significantly improved water solubility and percutaneous absorption. Based on the results of in vitro experiments with B16F10 melanoma cells, 10 µM FKCNFs repressed the expressions of melanogenesis-related proteins MITF and TRP2. Furthermore, cosmetic safety assessment revealed that FKCNFs displayed a good margin of safety. This study suggests that FKCNFs have great potential as an effective active ingredient for whitening cosmetics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pigment Cells: From Biology to Medicine)
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15 pages, 4913 KiB  
Article
Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 on Melanocyte Proliferation in Tissue-Engineered Skin Substitutes
by Karel Ferland, Brice Magne, Henri De Koninck, Martin A. Barbier, Danielle Larouche and Lucie Germain
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041704 - 17 Feb 2025
Viewed by 542
Abstract
Burn patients treated with tissue-engineered skin substitutes (TESs) often experience pigmentation irregularities, including hypopigmentation and pigmentation spots. These issues are thought to stem from the reduced presence of melanocytes through dilution during TES manufacturing. To address this, we hypothesized that supplementing epithelial cell [...] Read more.
Burn patients treated with tissue-engineered skin substitutes (TESs) often experience pigmentation irregularities, including hypopigmentation and pigmentation spots. These issues are thought to stem from the reduced presence of melanocytes through dilution during TES manufacturing. To address this, we hypothesized that supplementing epithelial cell cultures—primarily composed of keratinocytes but also containing melanocytes—with Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2), a known promoter of melanocyte proliferation, could enhance melanocyte growth. This would potentially increase their numbers in TESs and improve pigmentation outcomes. Our findings indicate that FGF-2, at an optimal dose of 0.2 nM, effectively maintains melanocyte numbers in 2D cultures and epithelial cell cultures through the first passage. Importantly, this treatment does not interfere with keratinocyte proliferation or differentiation, nor does it affect TES integrity. However, FGF-2 supplementation alone did not increase the proportion of melanocytes in epithelial cultures beyond the first passage or in TESs. In summary, while FGF-2 supports melanocyte growth in culture, its addition alone was insufficient to significantly improve TES pigmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pigment Cells: From Biology to Medicine)
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