What is the life cycle of melanocytes?

The life cycle of melanocytes consists of several steps including: lineage specification from embryonic neural crest cells (melanoblasts), migration and proliferation of myeloblasts, differentiation of melanoblasts into melanocytes, maturation of melanocytes (melanin production into melanosomes), transport of mature melanosomes to keratinocytes, and cell death. All melanoblasts are derived from neural crest cells during embryonic development. They then migrate to different parts of the body including skin, eyes, hair follicles, and the inner ear. Once they reach their destinations, they undergo proliferation within the developing tissues. Melanoblasts then differentiate into melanocytes and melanogensis then occurs. This is the process of melanin production and occurs within specialized organelles known as melanosomes. Melanin-filled melanosomes are then transported along the dendrites of melanocytes to adjacent keratinocytes for processing. Hair cell melanocytes experience cell death at the end of the 3-8 year long hair cycle, while epidermal melanocytes have a longer lifespan (decades).