Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Association between melanoma and dermal mast cell prevalence in sun-unexposed skin
M A Grimbaldeston1, A L Pearce, B O Robertson
1Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine and Flinders Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Background:
Both exposure to intermittent intense sunlight during childhood and ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced immunomodulation have been directly associated with melanoma development. In mice, the prevalence of dermal mast cells determines susceptibility to UVB-induced systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses and thus may affect immunological responses to melanoma antigens.
Objectives:
To determine the relevance of murine studies of dermal mast cell prevalence to human melanoma pathogenesis.
Methods:
The prevalence of mast cells was examined in sun-unexposed buttock skin of 45 melanoma patients and 68 control volunteers who had no history of skin cancer development. Buttock skin was studied because mast cell prevalence is stable with ageing and the confounding effects of environmental UV exposure are minimized.
Results:
Using tissue immunostaining, the buttock skin from melanoma patients had a significantly higher dermal mast cell prevalence (mean +/- SEM 38 +/- 2 mast cells mm(-2)) than controls (32 +/- 2 mast cells mm(-2)) (P = 0.02). Analysis by binary logistic regression showed that the association between mast cell prevalence and melanoma outcome was not significantly altered by skin phototype.
Conclusions:
The immunomodulatory effects of mast cell products in UV-irradiated skin may contribute significantly to the initiation and development of human cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
01:19Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
01:11Papillary Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...