Spotlight on spotted mice: a review of white spotting mouse mutants and associated human pigmentation disorders.
Mutation of genes that regulate neural crest-derived melanoblast development and survival can result in reduction and/or loss of mature melanocytes. The reduction in melanocyte number in the skin and hair follicles manifests itself as areas of hypopigmentation, commonly described as white spotting in mice. To date ten genes have been identified which are associated with white-spotting phenotypes in mouse. Seven of these genes are associated with neural crest and melanocyte disorders in humans. This review summarizes the phenotypes associated with mutation of these genes in both mouse and man. We describe our current understanding of how these genes function in development, and explore their complex roles regulating the various stages of melanocyte development.
Baxter
Laura L
LL
Mouse Embryology Section, Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Hou
Ling
L
Loftus
Stacie K
SK
Pavan
William J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000196:embryology; D010641:Phenotype; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*