The Specification Of Merkel Cell In The Back Skin And Glabrous Paw Skin Is Controlled By FGFR2-Mediated Signaling

The study demonstrated that Merkel cells, which are mechanosensory cells responsible for light touch sensations, originated from SOX9 positive (+) cells in hair placodes in murine back skin but not in glabrous paw skin, indicating different precursor populations in these regions. Despite this difference, RNA-seq transcriptional profiling revealed that Merkel cells in both back and glabrous paw skin had similar transcriptomes, suggesting that their formation was regulated by similar mechanisms. FGFR2-mediated signaling was identified as a crucial regulator for Merkel cell formation in both skin types, highlighting a common genetic program controlling their development.