Establishment of the in vitro model of the melanocyte and keratinocyte co-culture system and observation of melanosome transfer

Objective: To establish an in vitro model of the melanocyte and keratinocyte co-culture system, then the melanosome transfer was observed in this model. Methods: The human epidermal melanocyte and keratinocyte were first cultured separately. Then the melanosomes in the melanocytes were fluorescence labeled with carboxy fluorescein diacetate ester (CFDA-SE), keratinocytes and the labeled melanocytes were co-cultured for up to 7 days, and morphological manifestation of melanosomes transferred from keratinocytes to melanocytes was observed by both inverted and confocal microscopy. Results: On the 3rd day and the 7th day, live melanocytes and the keratinocytes were observed in the co-culture system and dendritic contact was observed between them by inverted microscopy. Moreover, the transfer of melanosomes from the melanocytes to the keratinocytes was observed by dint of fluorescence CFDA-SE under confocal microscope. Conclusions: The in vitro model of the melanocyte and keratinocyte co-culture system was successfully established and the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes is observed by using CFDA-SE staining.