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Neurotrophin‐3 signaling in mammalian Merkel cell development
Author(s) -
Szeder Viktor,
Grim Miloš,
Kucera Jan,
SieberBlum Maya
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10403
Subject(s) - biology , merkel cell , neural crest , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , neurotrophin 3 , tropomyosin receptor kinase c , neurotrophin , receptor , growth factor , embryo , brain derived neurotrophic factor , neurotrophic factors , genetics , merkel cell carcinoma , platelet derived growth factor receptor , carcinoma , gene
Merkel cells are sensory cells of neural crest origin. Because little is known about the mechanisms that direct their differentiation, we have investigated the potential role of a candidate regulatory factor, neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3). At embryonic day 16.5 (E 16.5), neither NT‐3 nor its primary receptors, TrkC and p75NTR are expressed by Merkel cells in the murine whisker. At the time of birth, however, Merkel cells are immunoreactive for NT‐3, TrkC and p75NTR. In TrkC null and NT‐3 null mice, Merkel cells differentiate initially, but undergo apoptosis perinatally. These results show that NT‐3 signaling is not required for the differentiation of Merkel cells, but that it is essential for their postnatal survival. Developmental Dynamics 228:623–629, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.