Functional And Long-Lived Melanocytes From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells With Transient Ectopic Expression Of JMJD3

Researchers successfully differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into functional and long-lived melanocytes by transiently expressing JMJD3. These melanocytes maintained their growth rate for approximately 200 days, demonstrated key functions such as melanogenesis and melanin transfer, and showed high engraftability and biocompatibility in immunodeficient mice. The study highlights the potential of using pluripotent stem cells to develop clinical applications for treating pigmentary skin disorders like vitiligo, which affects 0.1–2.0% of the global population. The differentiation protocol's simplicity enhances its potential for clinical use, addressing challenges in obtaining sufficient melanocytes for transplantation.