Microphthalmia transcription factor induces both retinal pigmented epithelium and neural crest melanocytes from neuroretina cells.
Mitf encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that plays an essential role in the differentiation of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and neural crest-derived melanocytes. As cells containing melanogenic enzymes (TRP2) are found in Mitf mouse mutants, it is not clear whether Mitf is a downstream factor or a master regulator of melanocyte differentiation. To further study the role of Mitf in committing cells to the melanocyte lineage, we express Mitf in the cultured quail neuroretina cells. This leads to the induction of two types of pigmented cells: neural crest-derived melanocytes, according to their dendritic morphology, physiology, and gene expression pattern are observed together with pigmented epithelial RPE-like cells. The expression of Mitf is lower in pigmented epithelial RPE-like cells than in neural crest-derived melanocytes. Accordingly, overexpression of Mitf in cultured quail RPE causes cells to develop into neural crest-like pigmented cells. Thus, Mitf is sufficient for the proper differentiation of crest-like pigmented cells from retinal cells and its expression level may determine the type of pigment cell induced.
UMR 146, Institut Curie Section de Recherche, Bātiment 110, Centre Universitaire, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
Nathalie
N
Planque
Graça
G
Raposo
Laurence
L
Leconte
Oceane
O
Anezo
Patrick
P
Martin
Simon
S
Saule
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology*; D011784:Quail; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors