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Isolation and characterization of Kit‐independent melanocyte precursors induced in the skin of Steel factor transgenic mice
Author(s) -
Kawaguchi Atsushi,
Chiba Kairi,
Tanimura Yu,
Motohashi Tsutomu,
Aoki Hitomi,
Takeda Tomoko,
Hayashi ShinIchi,
Shimizu Katsuji,
Kunisada Takahiro
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2007.00976.x
Subject(s) - stem cell factor , melanocyte , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , flow cytometry , proto oncogene proteins c kit , stem cell , genetically modified mouse , population , receptor tyrosine kinase , transgene , cancer research , progenitor cell , signal transduction , biochemistry , medicine , melanoma , environmental health , gene
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.