Premium
Merkel cells and touch domes: more than mechanosensory functions?
Author(s) -
Xiao Ying,
Williams Jonathan S.,
Brownell Isaac
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12456
Subject(s) - mechanosensation , merkel cell , epidermis (zoology) , biology , mechanoreceptor , merkel cell polyomavirus , cell type , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , cell , merkel cell carcinoma , genetics , receptor , ion channel , carcinoma , stimulation
The touch dome (TD) is an innervated structure in the epidermis of mammalian skin. Composed of specialized keratinocytes and neuroendocrine Merkel cells, the TD has distinct molecular characteristics compared to the surrounding epidermal keratinocytes. Much of the research on Merkel cell function has focused on their role in mechanosensation, specifically light touch. Recently, more has been discovered about Merkel cell molecular characteristics and their cells of origin. Here we review Merkel cell and TD biology, and discuss potential functions beyond mechanosensation.