Immortalized Mouse Melanocytes

Description

Epidermal melanocytes are melanin-producing cells that function as a protective mechanism from harmful UV rays. Melanoma has been associated to defects, dysfunction, or lack of melanocytes. Primary C57BL/6 mouse melanocytes have been derived and successfully immortalized with SV40 large T antigen. The Immortalized Mouse Melanocytes iMCs are hygromycin-resistant cells which expresses melanogenic markers c-kit, Pax3, Sox10, and MITF-m , and are non-tumorigenic. The cells are a pool consisting of progenitor-like, intermediately-differentiated, and late-stage melanocytes. iMCs may share STR profiles with B16. Individual clones are available: Immortalized Mouse Progenitor-Like Melanocytes iMC23 Cat. No. T0318 , Immortalized Mouse Intermediately Differentiated Melanoblasts iMC65 Cat. No.T0320 , and Immortalized Mouse Late Stage Melanocytes iMC37 Cat. No. T0319 . By culturing the cells in the presence of dexamethasone, differentiation occurs and yields mature melanocytes expressing HMB45 and tyrosinase. These cells are a valuable tool in melanocyte biology and molecular pathogenesis of pigment-related cell disorder studies.