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Dhh ‐expressing Schwann cell precursors contribute to skin and cochlear melanocytes, but not to vestibular melanocytes
Author(s) -
Bonnamour Grégoire,
Soret Rodolphe,
Pilon Nicolas
Publication year - 2021
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.12938
Subject(s) - neural crest , sox10 , fate mapping , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , melanocyte , transgene , genetically modified mouse , schwann cell , cochlea , locus (genetics) , anatomy , gene , genetics , embryo , progenitor cell , stem cell , melanoma
For a long time, melanocytes were believed to be exclusively derived from neural crest cells migrating from the neural tube toward the developing skin. This notion was then challenged by studies suggesting that melanocytes could also be made from neural crest‐derived Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) on peripheral nerves. A SCP origin was inferred from lineage tracing studies in mice using a Plp1 promoter‐controlled Cre driver transgene ( Plp1‐CreERT2 ) and a fluorescent Rosa26 locus‐controlled Cre reporter allele ( Rosa26 FloxSTOP‐YFP ). However, doubts were raised in part because another SCP‐directed Cre driver controlled by the Dhh promoter ( Dhh‐Cre ) was apparently unable to label melanocytes when used with a non‐fluorescent Rosa26 locus‐controlled Cre reporter ( Rosa26 FloxSTOP‐LacZ ). Here, we report that the same Dhh‐Cre driver line can efficiently label melanocytes when used in a pure FVB/N background together with the fluorescent instead of the non‐fluorescent Rosa26 locus‐controlled Cre reporter. Our data further suggest that the vast majority of skin melanocytes are SCP‐derived. Interestingly, we also discovered that SCPs contribute inner ear melanocytes in a region‐specific manner, extensively contributing to the cochlea but not to the vestibule.