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Induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived melanocyte precursor cells undergoing differentiation into melanocytes
Author(s) -
Hosaka Chieko,
Kunisada Makoto,
KoyanagiAoi Michiyo,
Masaki Taro,
Takemori Chihiro,
TaniguchiIkeda Mariko,
Aoi Takashi,
Nishigori Chikako
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/pcmr.12779
Subject(s) - microphthalmia associated transcription factor , wnt signaling pathway , melanocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , induced pluripotent stem cell , cellular differentiation , stem cell , sox10 , signal transduction , neural crest , embryonic stem cell , cancer research , gene , genetics , melanoma , transcription factor , embryo
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology offers a novel approach for conversion of human primary fibroblasts into melanocytes. During attempts to explore various protocols for differentiation of iPSCs into melanocytes, we found a distinct and self‐renewing cell lineage that could differentiate into melanocytes, named as melanocyte precursor cells (MPCs). The MPCs exhibited a morphology distinctive from that of melanocytes, in lacking either the melanosomal structure or the melanocyte‐specific marker genes MITF , TYR , and SOX10. In addition, gene expression studies in the MPCs showed high‐level expression of WNT5A , ROR2, which are non‐canonical WNT pathway markers, and its related receptor TGFβR2 . In contrast, MPC differentiation into melanocytes was achieved by activating the canonical WNT pathway using the GSK3β inhibitor. Our data demonstrated the distinct characteristic of MPCs' ability to differentiate into melanocytes, and the underlying mechanism of interfacing between canonical WNT signaling pathway and non‐canonical WNT signaling pathway.