title: Direct migration of follicular melanocyte stem cells to the epidermis after wounding or UVB irradiation is dependent on Mc1r signaling.
abstract: During wound healing, stem cells provide functional mature cells to meet acute demands for tissue regeneration. Simultaneously, the tissue must maintain a pool of stem cells to sustain its future regeneration capability. However, how these requirements are balanced in response to injury is unknown. Here we demonstrate that after wounding or ultraviolet type B irradiation, melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) in the hair follicle exit the stem cell niche before their initial cell division, potentially depleting the pool of these cells. We also found that McSCs migrate to the epidermis in a melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r)-dependent manner and differentiate into functional epidermal melanocytes, providing a pigmented protective barrier against ultraviolet irradiation over the damaged skin. These findings provide an example in which stem cell differentiation due to injury takes precedence over stem cell maintenance and show the potential for developing therapies for skin pigmentation disorders by manipulating McSCs.
authors.affiliation: The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Wei Chin
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeo
authors.forename: Piul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Rock
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carucci
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Overbeek
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1