The type and the amount of melanin produced is genetically determined 11 Oral mucosal and epidermal melanocytes are histologically and ultrastructurally identical, but it is recognised that oral melanocytes under physiological conditions are inherently less active metabolically 13 Nevertheless, when stimulated by hormones, pro-inflammatory cytokines, tobacco smoke or infectious agents such as HIV, oral mucosal melanocytes may become active, producing melanin hyperpigmentation 12,13 DISCUSSION Melanocytes originate from precursor cells which during development migrate from the neural crest, and ultimately differentiate into mature melanocytes that reside in the basal and suprabasal layers of the epidermis, and of the epithelium of mucous membranes 14 Apart from their primary role in melanogenesis, melanocytes function as immune cells producing cytokines which modulate local immuno-inflam-matory and antibacterial responses, and as neuroendocrine cells producing acetylcholine, catecholamines, opioids and melanocortins, all of which contribute to tissue homeostasis 11 Melanin plays an essential role in protection against ultraviolet radiation, and also provides protection against other environmental stressors such as reactive oxygen species, and is a main determinant of the colour of skin, hair and eyes 12,15 Melanocytes and their neighbouring keratinocytes form epithelial melanin units, each unit consisting of one melanocyte and a group of up to 36 keratinocytes 16 The melanin-containing melanosomes produced by the melanocytes are transferred via the dendritic processes of the melanocytes to the keratinocytes within the unit 16 Skin and oral mucosa owe their colour to the number and size of melanosomes, whether these contain eumelanin or pheomelanin, to the state of maturation of the network of melanocytic dendritic processes, and to the efficacy with which these dendritic processes distribute the melanosomes to neighbouring keratinocytes

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