Live-Imaging the Interface Between Homeostasis and Cancer Initiation
July 2016
in “
Cancer research
”
TLDR Mutant cells in hair follicles are influenced by their location and interactions with surrounding cells.
Researchers developed a novel live imaging technique to track cellular behaviors in normal skin and investigate the initiation of skin cancer. Using a model of oncogenic Hras (HrasG12V), they activated the mutation in the hair follicle's cycling, stem-cell-rich portion. They found that HrasG12V cells could be tolerated or eliminated by surrounding wild-type tissue, and the initial position of mutant cells influenced tissue phenotype. Additionally, they observed exosome release and clearance by epithelial and immune cells in the upper hair follicle and epidermis. Introducing a second mutation, loss of TGFβ signaling, aimed to study interactions among different cell types and their role in disease initiation, providing insights into the transition from normal to malignant states.
