Melanin in Melanosomes: Changing Properties in Malignant Melanotic Degeneration of Skin Tissue

Dear Colleagues,

Melanin in pigmented skin tissue was recognized early on as a double-edged sword with both a useful and a harmful function. Nevertheless, melanin was considered to be a black box for a long time, and about three decades ago leading researchers self-critically characterized themselves as blind people studying an elephant. The spectroscopic properties of melanin, which are unusual for an organic material, underline its specialness. Investigations on melanin in vivo in normal pigmented cells (melanocytes) then led to fundamental knowledge about melanin synthesis in the melanosomes and its interaction with keratinocytes, in particular as a reaction to UV radiation. In addition, questions going beyond melanocytes, e.g., regarding the process of nevogenesis and the development of melanoma, also required the inclusion of model systems that are easier to handle and can be influenced in a defined manner. A wide range of specifically adapted experimental methods and theoretical studies have been used for this purpose. This has led to significant, well-documented advances in our knowledge of the role that melanin plays in melanosomes of normal pigmented skin tissue (melanocytes).

As an extension of this, this Special Issue aims to present novel results on the properties of melanin in the melanosomes of benign and dysplastic nevomelanocytes and melanoma cells. To this end, we welcome the submission of original research papers, stimulating perspective articles, and comprehensive reviews.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• changing properties of melanin in the malignant degeneration process as compared with ordinary melanocytes;
• differences in the various Fitzpatrick skin types;
• insights into melanin’s structure in vivo and the role of the microenvironment;
• the eu-/pheomelanin ratio in the malignant degeneration process and in different melanoma subtypes;
• special methods for characterizing melanin in the malignant degeneration process/information from follow-up studies;
• indicators for the breaking of senescence;
• use of specific melanin signals (e.g., fluorescence) in melanoma diagnostics;
• possible changes in melanin properties in excised lesions during histological dissection and possible diagnostic effects;
• melanin in other pigmented lesions (e.g., pigmented BCC, collision tumors); and
• the melanin response in connection with inflammation.

Dr. Dieter Leupold
Guest Editor

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