Cells of the epidermis

The epidermis is mainly composed of four different types of cells.

Keratinocytes

 Definition: principal cells of the epidermis

 Location
 Throughout the whole epidermis
 Mitotically active in the basal layer (basal cells)
 Connected to the basement membrane via hemidesmosomes
 Function
 Primarily protect against environmental damage and form a barrier against
pathogens
 Protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation by storing melanin produced
by melanocytes
 Produce proinflammatory mediators to activate the immune system when
exposed to pathogens 
 Aid in the process of wound healing: The stratum basale is regenerative and it
proliferates to fill skin defects.
 Form tight junctions with nerve endings and hold lymphocytes and Langerhans
cells in place.
 Clinical significance
 Abnormal keratinocyte desquamation contributes to the development of acne.
 Sunburn: apoptosis of keratinocytes
 Blistering skin disorders (e.g., pemphigus vulgaris, staphylococcal scalded skin
syndrome): loss of intercellular junctions and desquamation of keratinocytes

Melanocytes

 Definition: melanin-producing cells derived from neural crest cells

 Location: hair, iris and choroid of the eye, stratum basale of the skin
 Function: melanin synthesis and storage
 Melanin is a dark pigment synthesized and stored in melanosomes (organelles
within melanocytes).
 Dendritic processes transfer melanosomes to adjacent and distant keratinocytes.
 Melanocytes are stimulated by MSH, ACTH, and sunlight (UV-
A): MSH and ACTH share the same precursor, proopiomelanocortin (POMC).
 Synthetic pathway of melanin 

1. Phenylalanine → L-tyrosine
 Enzyme: phenylalanine hydroxylase
 Location: liver

1. L-tyrosine → L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)
 Enzyme: tyrosine hydroxylase
 Location: melanosomes

1. DOPA → melanin (brown-black pigment)
 Enzyme: tyrosinase (copper-containing, oxidative enzyme that is
involved in the production of melanin from tyrosine)
 Location: melanosomes
 Clinical significance
 Pigmented skin disorders

 Vitiligo
 Albinism
 Melasma
 Tinea versicolor
 Potential tumors
 Benign: nevus/mole
 Malignant: melanoma