Cell of the Month: Mast Cells

Cell of the Month: Mast Cells

Mast cells are tissue-resident immune cells derived from the myeloid lineage, and along with basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils, they belong to the granulocyte family of white blood cells.  First discovered and named almost 200 years ago by German pathologist...
Cell of the Month: Pericytes

Cell of the Month: Pericytes

It’s a fibroblast-like cell adorned with long cytoplasmic processes that wrap around the endothelial cells in blood vessels, it controls blood flow through the blood vessels, and it is essential for normal brain function and development. Which cell type is it? Well,...
Mysteries of the Mighty Melanocytes

Mysteries of the Mighty Melanocytes

Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment present in our skin, eyes, and hair. iPS-derived melanocytes are used in models of skin disease, drug toxicity assays, skin bioprinting and in cell therapy R&D. Previously, we looked at the role of melanin...
Mysteries of the Mighty Melanocytes

Melanocytes, Melanin, and More

Melanocytes are melanin-producing cells found mainly in the lowest part of the top layer of your skin or to put it in science-speak: the stratum basale of your epidermis (see our article on the morphology of the skin). Melanin is a pigment, best known and primarily...