biostudies-literatureHall MJFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia425-435https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9543140biostudies-literatureUnknown35(4)The skin acts as a barrier to environmental insults and provides many vital functions. One of these is to shield DNA from harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is achieved by skin pigmentation arising as melanin is produced and dispersed within the epidermal layer. This is a crucial defence against DNA damage, photo-ageing and skin cancer. The mechanisms and regulation of melanogenesis and melanin transfer involve extensive crosstalk between melanocytes and keratinocytes in the epidermis, as well as fibroblasts in the dermal layer. Although the predominant mechanism of melanin transfer continues to be debated and several plausible models have been proposed, we and others previously provided evidence for a coupled exo/phagocytosis model. Herein, we performed histology and immunohistochemistrPigment cell & melanoma researchReconstructed human pigmented skin/epidermis models achieve epidermal pigmentation through melanocore transfer.PMC9543140PD/BD/136905/2018PD/BD/137442/2018PD/BD/128164/2016iNOVA4Health – UIDB/04462/2020 and UIDP/04462/20202020.08528.BDIF/00501/2014/CP1252/CT0001PTDC/BIA‐CEL/29765/2017Neto MVLopes-Ventura SCharneca JSeabra MCBarral DCZoio PHall MJOliva AfalseReconstructed human pigmented skin/epidermis models achieve epidermal pigmentation through melanocore transfer.The skin acts as a barrier to environmental insults and provides many vital functions. One of these is to shield DNA from harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is achieved by skin pigmentation arising as melanin is produced and dispersed within the epidermal layer. This is a crucial defence against DNA damage, photo-ageing and skin cancer. The mechanisms and regulation of melanogenesis and melanin transfer involve extensive crosstalk between melanocytes and keratinocytes in the epidermis, as well as fibroblasts in the dermal layer. Although the predominant mechanism of melanin transfer continues to be debated and several plausible models have been proposed, we and others previously provided evidence for a coupled exo/phagocytosis model. Herein, we performed histology and immunohistochemistr2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2026-07-14T14:23:15.223Z2025-04-04T20:03:31.401ZS-EPMC95431403532550510.1111/pcmr.13039