UV-dependent melanocyte plasticity--the structure-function relationship.

The UV response of marginal melanocytes in vitiliginous skin was studied using a whole skin organ culture technique. This method assesses the plasticity of melanocytes in response to UV. It is observed that there is a sequential increase in catecholoxidase production and in the volume and dendricity of the melanocytes on exposure to a single pulse of UV, reaching a peak at 3 1/2 h. From this study it is evident that the melanocyte shows a prominent structural and functional plasticity in response to UV. Implicit is the utilisation and transduction of UV energy by the melanocyte, for transcriptional and translational activity, enhancing catecholoxidase and cell structural protein production.