Mesenchymal Meis2 Controls Whisker Development Independently From Trigeminal Sensory Innervation
November 2024
in “
eLife
”
Studysummary This study in mice found that MEIS2 expression in mesenchymal dermal cells is crucial for the formation of whiskers and the initial steps of epithelial placode development, independently of sensory nerve innervation or Foxd1 expression.
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This study investigates the role of mesenchymal Meis2 in whisker development in mice, revealing that Meis2 expression in neural crest-derived cells is crucial for whisker formation and trigeminal nerve branching. The research demonstrates that whisker development occurs independently of trigeminal sensory innervation, with MEIS2 in mesenchymal dermal cells directing the early stages of epithelial placode formation and dermal condensation. Although MEIS2 regulates the transcription factor Foxd1, which is associated with pre-dermal condensation, the absence of Foxd1 does not impact whisker development. The findings highlight the importance of mesenchymal MEIS2 in whisker formation, independent of sensory innervation and Foxd1 expression.
