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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Rapid Generation of Primary Murine Melanocyte and Fibroblast Cultures
Published on: June 26, 2019
Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes melanocyte migration via increased expression of p125(FAK) on melanocytes
Ching-Shuang Wu1, Cheng-Che E Lan, Min-Hsi Chiou
1Faculty of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by depigmentation of skin and hair. Melanocyte migration is an important event in re-pigmentation of vitiligo. We have demonstrated that narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation stimulated cultured keratinocytes to release a significant amount of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Furthermore, narrow-band UVB enhanced migration of melanocytes via increased expression of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) on melanocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of recombinant human bFGF (rhbFGF) on melanocyte migration. The relationship between the expression of p125(FAK) and melanocyte migration induced by rhbFGF was also studied. Our results demonstrated that rhbFGF significantly enhanced migration of melanocytes and p125(FAK) expression on melanocytes. Herbimycin A, a potent p125(FAK) inhibitor, effectively abolished rhbFGF-induced melanocyte migration. The combined results indicated that p125(FAK) plays an important role in the signal transduction pathway of melanocyte migration induced by bFGF.
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Pigmentation
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...

