Talk:Integumentary System Development: Difference between revisions

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==2010==
===Role of canonical Wnt signaling/ß-catenin via Dermo1 in cranial dermal cell development===
Development. 2010 Dec;137(23):3973-84. Epub 2010 Oct 27.
Tran TH, Jarrell A, Zentner GE, Welsh A, Brownell I, Scacheri PC, Atit R.
Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Abstract
Cranial dermis develops from cephalic mesoderm and neural crest cells, but what signal(s) specifies the dermal lineage is unclear. Using genetic tools to fate map and manipulate a cranial mesenchymal progenitor population in the supraorbital region, we show that the dermal progenitor cells beneath the surface ectoderm process canonical Wnt signaling at the time of specification. We show that Wnt signaling/β-catenin is absolutely required and sufficient for Dermo1 expression and dermal cell identity in the cranium. The absence of the Wnt signaling cue leads to formation of cartilage in craniofacial and ventral trunk regions at the expense of dermal and bone lineages. Dermo1 can be a direct transcription target and may mediate the functional role of Wnt signaling in dermal precursors. This study reveals a lineage-specific role of canonical Wnt signaling/β-catenin in promoting dermal cell fate in distinct precursor populations.
PMID: 20980404
===Comparison between human fetal and adult skin===
===Comparison between human fetal and adult skin===
Coolen NA, Schouten KC, Middelkoop E, Ulrich MM.
Coolen NA, Schouten KC, Middelkoop E, Ulrich MM.
Line 10: Line 25:


Healing of early-gestation fetal wounds results in scarless healing. Since the capacity for regeneration is probably inherent to the fetal skin itself, knowledge of the fetal skin composition may contribute to the understanding of fetal wound healing. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression profiles of different epidermal and dermal components in the human fetal and adult skin. In the human fetal skin (ranging from 13 to 22 weeks’ gestation) and adult skin biopsies, the expression patterns of several epidermal proteins (K10, K14, K16, K17, SKALP, involucrin), basement membrane proteins, Ki-67, blood vessels and extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, chondroitin sulfate, elastin) were determined using immunohistochemistry. The expression profiles of K17, involucrin, dermal Ki-67, fibronectin and chondroitin sulfate were higher in the fetal skin than in adult skin. In the fetal skin, elastin was not present in the dermis, but it was found in the adult skin. The expression patterns of basement membrane proteins, blood vessels, K10, K14, K16 and epidermal Ki-67 were similar in human fetal skin and adult skin. In this systematic overview, most of the differences between fetal and adult skin were found at the level of dermal extracellular matrix molecules expression. This study suggests that, especially, dermal components are important in fetal scarless healing.
Healing of early-gestation fetal wounds results in scarless healing. Since the capacity for regeneration is probably inherent to the fetal skin itself, knowledge of the fetal skin composition may contribute to the understanding of fetal wound healing. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression profiles of different epidermal and dermal components in the human fetal and adult skin. In the human fetal skin (ranging from 13 to 22 weeks’ gestation) and adult skin biopsies, the expression patterns of several epidermal proteins (K10, K14, K16, K17, SKALP, involucrin), basement membrane proteins, Ki-67, blood vessels and extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, chondroitin sulfate, elastin) were determined using immunohistochemistry. The expression profiles of K17, involucrin, dermal Ki-67, fibronectin and chondroitin sulfate were higher in the fetal skin than in adult skin. In the fetal skin, elastin was not present in the dermis, but it was found in the adult skin. The expression patterns of basement membrane proteins, blood vessels, K10, K14, K16 and epidermal Ki-67 were similar in human fetal skin and adult skin. In this systematic overview, most of the differences between fetal and adult skin were found at the level of dermal extracellular matrix molecules expression. This study suggests that, especially, dermal components are important in fetal scarless healing.
===Development of a three dimensional multiscale computational model of the human epidermis===
Adra S, Sun T, MacNeil S, Holcombe M, Smallwood R.
PLoS One. 2010 Jan 14;5(1):e8511.
PMID: 20076760
Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-beta1) is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily ligand-receptor network. and plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration. The extensive in vitro and in vivo experimental literature describing its actions nevertheless describe an apparent paradox in that during re-epithelialisation it acts as proliferation inhibitor for keratinocytes. The majority of biological models focus on certain aspects of TGF-beta1 behaviour and no one model provides a comprehensive story of this regulatory factor's action. Accordingly our aim was to develop a computational model to act as a complementary approach to improve our understanding of TGF-beta1. In our previous study, an agent-based model of keratinocyte colony formation in 2D culture was developed. In this study this model was extensively developed into a three dimensional multiscale model of the human epidermis which is comprised of three interacting and integrated layers: (1) an agent-based model which captures the biological rules governing the cells in the human epidermis at the cellular level and includes the rules for injury induced emergent behaviours, (2) a COmplex PAthway SImulator (COPASI) model which simulates the expression and signalling of TGF-beta1 at the sub-cellular level and (3) a mechanical layer embodied by a numerical physical solver responsible for resolving the forces exerted between cells at the multi-cellular level. The integrated model was initially validated by using it to grow a piece of virtual epidermis in 3D and comparing the in virtuo simulations of keratinocyte behaviour and of TGF-beta1 signalling with the extensive research literature describing this key regulatory protein. This research reinforces the idea that computational modelling can be an effective additional tool to aid our understanding of complex systems. In the accompanying paper the model is used to explore hypotheses of the functions of TGF-beta1 at the cellular and subcellular level on different keratinocyte populations during epidermal wound healing.
PMID: 20076760
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20076760
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008511
==2009==


===Langerhans cell (LC) proliferation mediates neonatal development, homeostasis, and inflammation-associated expansion of the epidermal LC network===
===Langerhans cell (LC) proliferation mediates neonatal development, homeostasis, and inflammation-associated expansion of the epidermal LC network===
Line 33: Line 61:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20038675
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20038675
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806278/?tool=pubmed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806278/?tool=pubmed
===FGF-regulated BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure and to specify conjunctival epithelial cell fate===
Development. 2009 May;136(10):1741-50. Epub 2009 Apr 15.
Huang J, Dattilo LK, Rajagopal R, Liu Y, Kaartinen V, Mishina Y, Deng CX, Umans L, Zwijsen A, Roberts AB, Beebe DC.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Abstract
There are conflicting reports about whether BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure during fetal development. This question was addressed using mice deficient in BMP or TGFbeta signaling in prospective eyelid and conjunctival epithelial cells. Genes encoding two type I BMP receptors, the type II TGFbeta receptor, two BMP- or two TGFbeta-activated R-Smads or the co-Smad Smad4 were deleted from the ocular surface ectoderm using Cre recombinase. Only mice with deletion of components of the BMP pathway had an 'eyelid open at birth' phenotype. Mice lacking Fgf10 or Fgfr2 also have open eyelids at birth. To better understand the pathways that regulate BMP expression and function during eyelid development, we localized BMPs and BMP signaling intermediates in Fgfr2 and Smad4 conditional knockout (CKO) mice. We found that Fgfr2 was required for the expression of Bmp4, the normal distribution of Shh signaling and for preserving the differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium. FGF signaling also promoted the expression of the Wnt antagonist Sfrp1 and suppressed Wnt signaling in the prospective eyelid epithelial cells, independently of BMP function. Transcripts encoding Foxc1 and Foxc2, which were previously shown to be necessary for eyelid closure, were not detectable in Smad4(CKO) animals. c-Jun, another key regulator of eyelid closure, was present and phosphorylated in eyelid periderm cells at the time of fusion, but failed to translocate to the nucleus in the absence of BMP function. Smad4(CKO) mice also showed premature differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium, conjunctival hyperplasia and the acquisition of epidermal characteristics, including formation of an ectopic row of hair follicles in place of the Meibomian glands. A second row of eyelashes is a feature of human lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, which is associated with mutations in FOXC2.
PMID: 19369394




Line 43: Line 83:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2064709/?tool=pubmed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2064709/?tool=pubmed


===Development of a three dimensional multiscale computational model of the human epidermis===
Adra S, Sun T, MacNeil S, Holcombe M, Smallwood R.
PLoS One. 2010 Jan 14;5(1):e8511.
PMID: 20076760
Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-beta1) is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily ligand-receptor network. and plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration. The extensive in vitro and in vivo experimental literature describing its actions nevertheless describe an apparent paradox in that during re-epithelialisation it acts as proliferation inhibitor for keratinocytes. The majority of biological models focus on certain aspects of TGF-beta1 behaviour and no one model provides a comprehensive story of this regulatory factor's action. Accordingly our aim was to develop a computational model to act as a complementary approach to improve our understanding of TGF-beta1. In our previous study, an agent-based model of keratinocyte colony formation in 2D culture was developed. In this study this model was extensively developed into a three dimensional multiscale model of the human epidermis which is comprised of three interacting and integrated layers: (1) an agent-based model which captures the biological rules governing the cells in the human epidermis at the cellular level and includes the rules for injury induced emergent behaviours, (2) a COmplex PAthway SImulator (COPASI) model which simulates the expression and signalling of TGF-beta1 at the sub-cellular level and (3) a mechanical layer embodied by a numerical physical solver responsible for resolving the forces exerted between cells at the multi-cellular level. The integrated model was initially validated by using it to grow a piece of virtual epidermis in 3D and comparing the in virtuo simulations of keratinocyte behaviour and of TGF-beta1 signalling with the extensive research literature describing this key regulatory protein. This research reinforces the idea that computational modelling can be an effective additional tool to aid our understanding of complex systems. In the accompanying paper the model is used to explore hypotheses of the functions of TGF-beta1 at the cellular and subcellular level on different keratinocyte populations during epidermal wound healing.
PMID: 20076760
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20076760
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008511




Line 94: Line 123:




===FGF-regulated BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure and to specify conjunctival epithelial cell fate===
Development. 2009 May;136(10):1741-50. Epub 2009 Apr 15.
Huang J, Dattilo LK, Rajagopal R, Liu Y, Kaartinen V, Mishina Y, Deng CX, Umans L, Zwijsen A, Roberts AB, Beebe DC.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Abstract
There are conflicting reports about whether BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure during fetal development. This question was addressed using mice deficient in BMP or TGFbeta signaling in prospective eyelid and conjunctival epithelial cells. Genes encoding two type I BMP receptors, the type II TGFbeta receptor, two BMP- or two TGFbeta-activated R-Smads or the co-Smad Smad4 were deleted from the ocular surface ectoderm using Cre recombinase. Only mice with deletion of components of the BMP pathway had an 'eyelid open at birth' phenotype. Mice lacking Fgf10 or Fgfr2 also have open eyelids at birth. To better understand the pathways that regulate BMP expression and function during eyelid development, we localized BMPs and BMP signaling intermediates in Fgfr2 and Smad4 conditional knockout (CKO) mice. We found that Fgfr2 was required for the expression of Bmp4, the normal distribution of Shh signaling and for preserving the differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium. FGF signaling also promoted the expression of the Wnt antagonist Sfrp1 and suppressed Wnt signaling in the prospective eyelid epithelial cells, independently of BMP function. Transcripts encoding Foxc1 and Foxc2, which were previously shown to be necessary for eyelid closure, were not detectable in Smad4(CKO) animals. c-Jun, another key regulator of eyelid closure, was present and phosphorylated in eyelid periderm cells at the time of fusion, but failed to translocate to the nucleus in the absence of BMP function. Smad4(CKO) mice also showed premature differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium, conjunctival hyperplasia and the acquisition of epidermal characteristics, including formation of an ectopic row of hair follicles in place of the Meibomian glands. A second row of eyelashes is a feature of human lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, which is associated with mutations in FOXC2.
PMID: 19369394





Revision as of 13:04, 21 December 2010

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2026, March 13) Embryology Integumentary System Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Talk:Integumentary_System_Development

2010

Role of canonical Wnt signaling/ß-catenin via Dermo1 in cranial dermal cell development

Development. 2010 Dec;137(23):3973-84. Epub 2010 Oct 27.

Tran TH, Jarrell A, Zentner GE, Welsh A, Brownell I, Scacheri PC, Atit R.

Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Abstract Cranial dermis develops from cephalic mesoderm and neural crest cells, but what signal(s) specifies the dermal lineage is unclear. Using genetic tools to fate map and manipulate a cranial mesenchymal progenitor population in the supraorbital region, we show that the dermal progenitor cells beneath the surface ectoderm process canonical Wnt signaling at the time of specification. We show that Wnt signaling/β-catenin is absolutely required and sufficient for Dermo1 expression and dermal cell identity in the cranium. The absence of the Wnt signaling cue leads to formation of cartilage in craniofacial and ventral trunk regions at the expense of dermal and bone lineages. Dermo1 can be a direct transcription target and may mediate the functional role of Wnt signaling in dermal precursors. This study reveals a lineage-specific role of canonical Wnt signaling/β-catenin in promoting dermal cell fate in distinct precursor populations.

PMID: 20980404


Comparison between human fetal and adult skin

Coolen NA, Schouten KC, Middelkoop E, Ulrich MM. Arch Dermatol Res. 2010 Jan;302(1):47-55. Epub 2009 Aug 23. PMID: 19701759 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19701759

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799629

http://www.springerlink.com/content/lv415257322x8247 http://www.springerlink.com/content/lv415257322x8247/fulltext.html

Healing of early-gestation fetal wounds results in scarless healing. Since the capacity for regeneration is probably inherent to the fetal skin itself, knowledge of the fetal skin composition may contribute to the understanding of fetal wound healing. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression profiles of different epidermal and dermal components in the human fetal and adult skin. In the human fetal skin (ranging from 13 to 22 weeks’ gestation) and adult skin biopsies, the expression patterns of several epidermal proteins (K10, K14, K16, K17, SKALP, involucrin), basement membrane proteins, Ki-67, blood vessels and extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, chondroitin sulfate, elastin) were determined using immunohistochemistry. The expression profiles of K17, involucrin, dermal Ki-67, fibronectin and chondroitin sulfate were higher in the fetal skin than in adult skin. In the fetal skin, elastin was not present in the dermis, but it was found in the adult skin. The expression patterns of basement membrane proteins, blood vessels, K10, K14, K16 and epidermal Ki-67 were similar in human fetal skin and adult skin. In this systematic overview, most of the differences between fetal and adult skin were found at the level of dermal extracellular matrix molecules expression. This study suggests that, especially, dermal components are important in fetal scarless healing.

Development of a three dimensional multiscale computational model of the human epidermis

Adra S, Sun T, MacNeil S, Holcombe M, Smallwood R. PLoS One. 2010 Jan 14;5(1):e8511. PMID: 20076760

Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-beta1) is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily ligand-receptor network. and plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration. The extensive in vitro and in vivo experimental literature describing its actions nevertheless describe an apparent paradox in that during re-epithelialisation it acts as proliferation inhibitor for keratinocytes. The majority of biological models focus on certain aspects of TGF-beta1 behaviour and no one model provides a comprehensive story of this regulatory factor's action. Accordingly our aim was to develop a computational model to act as a complementary approach to improve our understanding of TGF-beta1. In our previous study, an agent-based model of keratinocyte colony formation in 2D culture was developed. In this study this model was extensively developed into a three dimensional multiscale model of the human epidermis which is comprised of three interacting and integrated layers: (1) an agent-based model which captures the biological rules governing the cells in the human epidermis at the cellular level and includes the rules for injury induced emergent behaviours, (2) a COmplex PAthway SImulator (COPASI) model which simulates the expression and signalling of TGF-beta1 at the sub-cellular level and (3) a mechanical layer embodied by a numerical physical solver responsible for resolving the forces exerted between cells at the multi-cellular level. The integrated model was initially validated by using it to grow a piece of virtual epidermis in 3D and comparing the in virtuo simulations of keratinocyte behaviour and of TGF-beta1 signalling with the extensive research literature describing this key regulatory protein. This research reinforces the idea that computational modelling can be an effective additional tool to aid our understanding of complex systems. In the accompanying paper the model is used to explore hypotheses of the functions of TGF-beta1 at the cellular and subcellular level on different keratinocyte populations during epidermal wound healing.

PMID: 20076760 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20076760

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008511

2009

Langerhans cell (LC) proliferation mediates neonatal development, homeostasis, and inflammation-associated expansion of the epidermal LC network

Chorro L, Sarde A, Li M, Woollard KJ, Chambon P, Malissen B, Kissenpfennig A, Barbaroux JB, Groves R, Geissmann F. J Exp Med. 2009 Dec 21;206(13):3089-100. Epub 2009 Dec 7. PMID: 19995948

Most tissues develop from stem cells and precursors that undergo differentiation as their proliferative potential decreases. Mature differentiated cells rarely proliferate and are replaced at the end of their life by new cells derived from precursors. Langerhans cells (LCs) of the epidermis, although of myeloid origin, were shown to renew in tissues independently from the bone marrow, suggesting the existence of a dermal or epidermal progenitor. We investigated the mechanisms involved in LC development and homeostasis. We observed that a single wave of LC precursors was recruited in the epidermis of mice around embryonic day 18 and acquired a dendritic morphology, major histocompatibility complex II, CD11c, and langerin expression immediately after birth. Langerin(+) cells then undergo a massive burst of proliferation between postnatal day 2 (P2) and P7, expanding their numbers by 10-20-fold. After the first week of life, we observed low-level proliferation of langerin(+) cells within the epidermis. However, in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis (AD), a keratinocyte signal triggered increased epidermal LC proliferation. Similar findings were observed in epidermis from human patients with AD. Therefore, proliferation of differentiated resident cells represents an alternative pathway for development in the newborn, homeostasis, and expansion in adults of selected myeloid cell populations such as LCs. This mechanism may be relevant in locations where leukocyte trafficking is limited.

PMID: 19995948 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19995948

http://jem.rupress.org/content/206/13/3089.long

This article is distributed under the terms of an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike–No Mirror Sites license for the first six months after the publication date (see http://www.jem.org/misc/terms.shtml). After six months it is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported license, as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).

Elaine Fuchs: A love for science that's more than skin deep. Interviewed by Ben Short

Fuchs E. J Cell Biol. 2009 Dec 28;187(7):938-9. No abstract available. PMID: 20038675

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20038675 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806278/?tool=pubmed

FGF-regulated BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure and to specify conjunctival epithelial cell fate

Development. 2009 May;136(10):1741-50. Epub 2009 Apr 15.


Huang J, Dattilo LK, Rajagopal R, Liu Y, Kaartinen V, Mishina Y, Deng CX, Umans L, Zwijsen A, Roberts AB, Beebe DC.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA. Abstract There are conflicting reports about whether BMP signaling is required for eyelid closure during fetal development. This question was addressed using mice deficient in BMP or TGFbeta signaling in prospective eyelid and conjunctival epithelial cells. Genes encoding two type I BMP receptors, the type II TGFbeta receptor, two BMP- or two TGFbeta-activated R-Smads or the co-Smad Smad4 were deleted from the ocular surface ectoderm using Cre recombinase. Only mice with deletion of components of the BMP pathway had an 'eyelid open at birth' phenotype. Mice lacking Fgf10 or Fgfr2 also have open eyelids at birth. To better understand the pathways that regulate BMP expression and function during eyelid development, we localized BMPs and BMP signaling intermediates in Fgfr2 and Smad4 conditional knockout (CKO) mice. We found that Fgfr2 was required for the expression of Bmp4, the normal distribution of Shh signaling and for preserving the differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium. FGF signaling also promoted the expression of the Wnt antagonist Sfrp1 and suppressed Wnt signaling in the prospective eyelid epithelial cells, independently of BMP function. Transcripts encoding Foxc1 and Foxc2, which were previously shown to be necessary for eyelid closure, were not detectable in Smad4(CKO) animals. c-Jun, another key regulator of eyelid closure, was present and phosphorylated in eyelid periderm cells at the time of fusion, but failed to translocate to the nucleus in the absence of BMP function. Smad4(CKO) mice also showed premature differentiation of the conjunctival epithelium, conjunctival hyperplasia and the acquisition of epidermal characteristics, including formation of an ectopic row of hair follicles in place of the Meibomian glands. A second row of eyelashes is a feature of human lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, which is associated with mutations in FOXC2.

PMID: 19369394




Biology and Genetics of Hair. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20590427


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2064709/?tool=pubmed


Sensory

Transient receptor potential channel - (TRP) a transmembrane protein acting as a thermo-sensitive channel that is expressed on sensory neurons and skin epithelial cells in vertebrate and non-vertebrate animals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662787

Melanoblasts

Ex vivo live imaging of melanoblast migration in embryonic mouse skin.

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2010 Apr;23(2):299-301. Epub 2010 Jan 7.

Mort RL, Hay L, Jackson IJ.

PMID: 20067551 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20067551

Melanoblasts are the embryonic precursors of melanocytes. They are derived from the neural crest at around embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) and upregulate early melanoblast specific markers (Mitf, Tyrosinase, Dct, Kit) around E10.5.


Includes videos of melanoblast migration in model mouse skin system.

The making of a melanocyte: the specification of melanoblasts from the neural crest.

Thomas AJ, Erickson CA. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2008 Dec;21(6):598-610. Review. PMID: 19067969


Two distinct types of mouse melanocyte: differential signaling requirement for the maintenance of non-cutaneous and dermal versus epidermal melanocytes

Development. 2009 Aug;136(15):2511-21. Epub 2009 Jun 24.

Aoki H, Yamada Y, Hara A, Kunisada T.

Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu, Japan. Abstract Unlike the thoroughly investigated melanocyte population in the hair follicle of the epidermis, the growth and differentiation requirements of the melanocytes in the eye, harderian gland and inner ear - the so-called non-cutaneous melanocytes - remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the factors that regulate melanocyte development on the stem cells or the precursors of these non-cutaneous melanocytes. In general, a reduction in KIT receptor tyrosine kinase signaling leads to disordered melanocyte development. However, melanocytes in the eye, ear and harderian gland were revealed to be less sensitive to KIT signaling than cutaneous melanocytes. Instead, melanocytes in the eye and harderian gland were stimulated more effectively by endothelin 3 (ET3) or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signals than by KIT signaling, and the precursors of these melanocytes expressed the lowest amount of KIT. The growth and differentiation of these non-cutaneous melanocytes were specifically inhibited by antagonists for ET3 and HGF. In transgenic mice induced to express ET3 or HGF in their skin and epithelial tissues from human cytokeratin 14 promoters, the survival and differentiation of non-cutaneous and dermal melanocytes, but not epidermal melanocytes, were enhanced, apparently irrespective of KIT signaling. These results provide a molecular basis for the clear discrimination between non-cutaneous or dermal melanocytes and epidermal melanocytes, a difference that might be important in the pathogenesis of melanocyte-related diseases and melanomas.

PMID: 19553284 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19553284



AP-2 factors act in concert with Notch to orchestrate terminal differentiation in skin epidermis

J Cell Biol. 2008 Oct 6;183(1):37-48. Epub 2008 Sep 29.

Wang X, Pasolli HA, Williams T, Fuchs E.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA. Abstract The mechanisms by which mammalian epidermal stem cells cease to proliferate and embark upon terminal differentiation are still poorly understood. By conditionally ablating two highly expressed transcription factors, AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma, we unmasked functional redundancies and discovered an essential role for AP-2s in the process. In vivo and in vitro, AP-2 deficiency is accompanied by surprisingly minimal changes in basal gene expression but severely perturbed terminal differentiation and suppression of additional transcription factors and structural genes involved. In dissecting the underlying molecular pathways, we uncover parallel pathways involving AP-2 and Notch signaling, which converge to govern CCAAT/enhancer binding protein genes and orchestrate the transition from basal proliferation to suprabasal differentiation. Finally, we extend the striking similarities in compromising either Notch signaling or AP-2alpha/AP-2gamma in developing skin to that in postnatal skin, where all hair follicles and sebaceous gland differentiation are also repressed and overt signs of premalignant conversion emerge.

PMID: 18824566