title: A light-colored region of caudal fin: a niche of melanocyte progenitors in crucian carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).
abstract: Melanocyte stem cells are a population of immature cells which sustain the self-renewal and replenish the differentiated melanocytes. In this research, a light-colored region (LCR) is observed at the heel of caudal fin in juvenile crucian carp. By cutting off the caudal fin, the operated caudal fin can regenerate in accordance with the original pigment pattern from the retained LCR. As markers of stem cells, Oct4 and Sox2 have been found to be highly expressed in the LCR as well as Mitfa, a label of the melanoblasts. In vitro, Mitfa+melanoblasts are observed in the cells which are derived from the LCR and transfected with Mitfa-EGFP reporter by using Tol2 transposon system. Furthermore, by real-time qPCR, it is shown that the level of sox2 mRNA is gradually decreased from the LCR to proximal and distal caudal fin, and that of mitfa mRNA in the proximal caudal fin (PCF) is higher than that in the LCR, while it is the lowest in the distal caudal fin. Hence, we propose that the LCR is a pigment progenitor niche, sending melanocytes to the distal of caudal fin, which gradually emerges as caudal fin grow. We reveal that the LCR of caudal fin might be a niche of pigment progenitors, and contribute to pigment-producing stem cells in crucian carp.
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Yaping
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Yurong
authors: Y
authors: Luo
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Jinhui
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Saiyu
authors: S
authors: Gui
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Wenbin
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Liangyue
authors: L
authors: Peng
authors: Key Lab of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Education Ministry of China, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
authors: Yamei
authors: Y
authors: Xiao
mesh_terms: D058500:Animal Fins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C497237:mitfa protein, zebrafish
keywords: Mitfa; Sox2; caudal fin; crucian carp; pigment progenitor