Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Pigmentation01:19

Pigmentation

The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
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...
Skin Cancer01:30

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Somatic Mosaicism in Blaschkolinear Inflammatory Disorders.

Journal of clinical & experimental dermatology research·2022
Same author

Restricting tumor lactic acid metabolism using dichloroacetate improves T cell functions.

BMC cancer·2022
Same author

A metabolic switch to memory CAR T cells: Implications for cancer treatment.

Cancer letters·2020
Same author

Histopathology-guided mass spectrometry differentiates benign nevi from malignant melanoma.

Journal of cutaneous pathology·2019
Same author

Necrotic Keratinocytes Are Common in Psoriasis and Have a Predilection to the Upper Epidermis: A Quantitative and Comparative Analysis.

The American Journal of dermatopathology·2019
Same author

Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-Cell Lymphoma With Granulomas as the Predominant Feature.

The American Journal of dermatopathology·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

Why do melanomas get so dark?

Rossitza Lazova1, John M Pawelek

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8059, USA.

Experimental Dermatology
|August 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Darkly pigmented melanoma cells may arise from within existing tumors and show signs of autophagy. This process, linked to specific sugar structures, could indicate increased potential for invasion and metastasis.

More Related Videos

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
06:09

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
08:49

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

Published on: May 18, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
06:09

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
08:49

A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model

Published on: May 18, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cutaneous malignant melanomas often display dark pigmentation due to melanin.
  • Melanoma cells, keratinocytes, and melanophages contribute to tumor color.
  • The origin and regulation of dark melanoma cell pigmentation remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the origin of darkly pigmented melanoma cells.
  • Explore the molecular pathways regulating melanin production in melanoma.
  • Determine the role of autophagy and glycosylation in melanoma progression.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of dark melanoma cells within melanoma in situ populations.
  • Analysis of experimental mouse macrophage-melanoma hybrids.
  • Assessment of pigment production, autophagy, and beta1,6-branched oligosaccharide levels.

Main Results:

  • Dark melanoma cells emerge from within melanoma in situ and exhibit abundant dark pigment and autophagy.
  • Autophagy is a common feature of invasive melanoma cells in the dermis.
  • High levels of beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides are associated with dark pigment and autophagy, observed in both clinical samples and experimental hybrids.

Conclusions:

  • Aberrant beta1,6-branched oligosaccharide production may underlie dark pigmentation and autophagy in melanoma.
  • While the in vivo origin from macrophage fusion is uncertain, dark pigmentation may signal enhanced invasion and metastasis competence.
  • Pigmentation in melanoma could serve as a visible indicator of malignancy progression.