Isolation and characterization of Kit-independent melanocyte precursors induced in the skin of Steel factor transgenic mice.
Steel factor (SLF, also called KIT-ligand, mast cell growth factor, or stem cell factor) acting through the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT is thought to be indispensable for the early phase of melanocyte development both in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, Kit-independent precursor cells were generated in mice expressing exogenous SLF in their skin keratinocytes and were detected as pigmented spots after administration of Kit function-blocking antibody. We successfully purified these precursor or stem cells as Kit+CD45- cells by flow cytometry. The purified cells showed normal but delayed differentiation into mature melanocytes, indicating the immature nature of Kit-independent precursors. The Kit-independent interfollicular population generated in SLF transgenic mice was suggested to be the counterpart of the follicular melanocyte stem cell based on the Kit-independent nature for their survival.
Kawaguchi
Atsushi
A
Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.
Chiba
Kairi
K
Tanimura
Yu
Y
Motohashi
Tsutomu
T
Aoki
Hitomi
H
Takeda
Tomoko
T
Hayashi
Shin-Ichi
S
Shimizu
Katsuji
K
Kunisada
Takahiro
T
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015603:Keratinocytes; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit