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

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.037168
• Publication Date: 2009-06-25T00:54:58Z
• Authors: Hitomi Aoki; Yasuhiro Yamada; Akira Hara; Takahiro Kunisada
• Keywords: Melanocyte; Epidermis (zoology); Harderian gland

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