Induction of melanogenesis by tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate and endothelin 3 in embryonic avian peripheral nerve cultures.
In this study, we have analyzed the melanogenic potential of Schwann cells using in vitro cell cultures of embryonic quail peripheral nerves. It is shown that in Schwann cells, two factors, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) and endothelin 3, trigger a differentiation pathway toward melanocytes, and that Steel factor has no effect on these cells unless treated simultaneously with TPA. In these cultures, TPA induces the expression of c-kit, whereas Steel factor enhances the development of melanocytes. In the assay system we employed, neither neuronal nor catecholaminergic phenotypes were obtained, regardless of various combinations of related factors added to the culture medium. These data support our previous observations indicating the existence of bipotent progenitors that are capable of differentiating into Schwann cells or into melanocytes, and the regulatory role of endothelin 3 on those precursors, as revealed by the clonal culture of neural crest cells.
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Institut d'Embryologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 9064, Nogent-sur-Marne, France.
Le Douarin
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D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology*; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019334:Endothelin-3; D008543:Melanins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate