Melanocytes as "sensory" and regulatory cells in the epidermis.

Epidermal melanocytes (MC) are pigment-producing and secretorily active cells of neural crest origin that communicate directly with multiple targets. Here, we propose that normal epidermal MC also are "sensory" and regulatory cells operating in the context of a regulatory network for the maintenance of human epidermal homeostasis. Altered regulatory MC functions may play a role in selected skin diseases, and racial pigmentation may affect cutaneous functions.