title: Lineage of anuran epidermal basal cells and their differentiation potential in relation to metamorphic skin remodeling.
abstract: The anuran remodels the larval epidermis into the adult one during metamorphosis. Larval and adult epidermal cells of the bullfrog were characterized by determining the presence of huge cytoplasmic keratin bundles and the expression profiles of specific marker genes, namely colalpha1 (collagen alpha1 (I)), rlk (larval keratin) and rak (adult keratin). We identified four types of epidermal basal cells: (i) basal skein cells that have keratin bundles and express colalpha1 and rlk; (ii) rak+-basal skein cells that have keratin bundles and express colalpha1, rlk, and rak; (iii) larval basal cells that express rlk and rak; and (iv) adult basal cells that express rak. These traits suggested that these basal cells are on the same lineage in which basal skein cells are the original progenitor cells that consecutively differentiate into rak+-basal skein cells into larval basal cells, and finally into adult basal cells. To directly verify the differentiation potential of larval basal cells into adult ones, the mono-layered epidermis composed of larval basal cells was cultured in the presence of aldosterone and thyroid hormone. In this culture, larval basal cells differentiated into adult basal cells that reconstituted the adult epidermis. Thus, it was concluded that larval basal cells are the direct progenitor cells of the adult epidermal stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Utoh
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizato
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D008954:Models, Biological; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D019012:Integrin beta1; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D000450:Aldosterone; D011388:Prolactin; C089848:Tec protein-tyrosine kinase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases