Human melanocytes are found in the epidermis and are part of a single layer of cells, comprised primarily of keratinocytes, called the stratum basale which is located at the dermal-epidermal junction. Their primary function is to synthesize the brown pigment, melanin, which protects the skin from burning. Melanin is responsible for the coloration of skin generally referred to as a "tan". Melanocytes produce melanin in response to ultraviolet radiation, which occurs in sunlight. They can also become malignant. Hence, researchers in the biological sciences, and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are interested in culturing and studying these cells in vitro.
Some examples of media used in the past to culture melanocytes are MCDB 104,MCDB 151,MCDB 153, and Medium 199. These early media used for the in vitro culture of melanocytes were supplemented with sera. Unfortunately, early studies of melanocyte metabolism, proliferation, differentiation and regulation have been complicated by the complex and undefined aspects of sera. The recent development of serum-free media formulations for the in vitro culture of melanocytes offers the researcher an opportunity to study melanocytes without these complications.
Sigma offers the serum-free culture system MMK-2, which is comprised of a basal medium, M 1669 and a supplement M 1794. The following two tables describe this system in detail.
Proprietary formulation, modified version of MCDB 151 and MCDB 104
Contains essential and non-essential amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, organic and inorganic salts.
Without antibiotics, antimycotics, hormones, growth factors, or proteins.
Buffered with HEPES and sodium bicarbonate
Sterile filtered
Endotoxin tested
Cell culture tested.
This basal medium is a component of our Melanocyte Proliferation Medium Kit (MMK-2). It is designed to be used in conjunction with Melanocyte Medium Supplement (M 1794), and it is not sold separately.
The MMK-2 kit provides a complete medium for the proliferation of human epidermal melanocytes for research purposes.
The serum free culture of melanocyte cells is supported by a series of products offered by Sigma. The table below provides a partial list of Sigma products recommended for this purpose. Also, see the "Melanocyte Cell Culture Media" table above. [This table may also be found by using the hyperlink at the top of the page.]
This supplement is a component of our Melanocyte Proliferation Medium Kit (MMK-2). It is designed to be used in conjunction with Melanocyte Basal Medium (M 1669), and it is not sold separately.
The MMK-2 kit provides a complete medium for the proliferation of human epidermal melanocytes for research purposes.
Use to inhibit the proteolytic action of Trypsin-EDTA (T 4299) after epithelial cells are released from a substrate or disaggregated.
Chemically defined and free of animal derived components. The absence of animal derived components reduces the potential for contamination of cryopreserved cells with adventitious biological agents such as viruses.
Sigma isproud to offer a selection of media, many of which are serum-free, for the in vitro culture of human primary cells, such as keratinocytes, corneal epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, melanocytes and epithelial hepatocytes. These primary cell types have potential commercial value in a wide range of emerging technologies and therapeutic applications. Among these are: tissue engineering applications, such as would healing and burn treatment; high throughput screening for drug toxicology and efficacy studies; gene therapy; pseudo-organs (e.g.. artificial liver) and as model cell systems for developing new therapeutic approaches to human diseases.
