ENAapplication/xmlftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/005/ERR7196785/ERR7196785.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/006/ERR7196786/ERR7196786.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/003/ERR7196783/ERR7196783.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/009/ERR7196779/ERR7196779.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/007/ERR7196787/ERR7196787.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/002/ERR7196782/ERR7196782.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/001/ERR7196781/ERR7196781.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/004/ERR7196784/ERR7196784.fastq.gzftp://ftp.sra.ebi.ac.uk/vol1/fastq/ERR719/000/ERR7196780/ERR7196780.fastq.gzprimaryOK200GenomicsUNIVERSITY OF ZURICH, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ZURICHhttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB48457It is still unknown whether the human interfollicular epidermis harbors a reservoir of melanocyte precursor cells. Here, we clearly distinguished between three distinct types of melanocytes in human interfollicular epidermis: (1) cKit+CD90-, (2) cKit+CD90+, and (3) cKit-CD90+. Importantly, we identified the Kit tyrosine kinase receptor (cKit) as a marker expressed specifically in mature, melanin-producing melanocytes. Thus, both cKit+CD90- and cKit+CD90+ cells represented polydendritic, pigmented mature melanocytes, whereas cKit-CD90+ cells displayed bipolar, non-dendritic morphology with reduced melanin content.Additionally, using tissue-engineered pigmented dermo-epidermal skin substitutes (melDESS), we revealed that the expression of cKit in human melanocytes is critical for the pigmentation of melDESS. Interestingly, cKit-CD90+ cells lacked the expression of markers such as HMB45, TYR, and TRP1 in vitro and in vivo. However, they co-expressed neural-crest progenitor markers and demonstrated multilineage differentiation potential in vitro.Hence, we propose that cKit-CD90+ cells constitute the precursor melanocyte reservoir in human interfollicular epidermis.ENASchool-Age Populations, Populations, Melanocyte, human being, Man (Taxonomy), skin, Modern, outer epithelial layer, Population, hypodermis, man, School Age Populations, human, Human, melanophore, School-Age, vertebrate epidermis, Homo sapiens, School Age, Modern Man, epidermis., School-Age Population, epidermis (sensu Metazoa), outer epidermal layer, School Age Population, hypoderm, ManfalseCharacterization of a melanocyte progenitor population in human interfollicular epidermis2022-01-052022-01-05PRJEB48457