Regeneration of Mouse Skin Melanocyte Stem Cells In Vivo and In Vitro
January 2018
in “
Methods in molecular biology
”
TLDR The research found ways to activate melanocyte stem cells for potential treatment of skin depigmentation conditions.
The study explored methods to activate melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) for hair follicle regeneration in mice and to create an immortalized cell line of melanocyte progenitors from neonatal mouse skin. The in vivo approach used 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to induce McSCs regeneration, migration, and differentiation, while the in vitro method developed a culture system for these progenitors. The research aimed at understanding melanogenesis and potential treatments for skin depigmentation diseases such as canities and vitiligo. Detailed protocols for McSCs regeneration, including TPA application and immunofluorescence staining to analyze melanocyte proliferation and differentiation, were provided. The findings could have implications for treating hypopigmentation in skin and hair.