The Cellular Basis of Mechanosensory Merkel-Cell Innervation During Development

February 2019 in “ eLife ”

Blair A. Jenkins, Natalia M. Fontecilla, Ping Lu, Elaine Fuchs, Ellen A Lumpkin

Merkel cells keratinocytes Bmp4 Noggin BMP signaling hair-follicle specification Keratin-17

TLDR BMP signaling is essential for the development of touch domes.

The study investigated the development of mechanosensory Merkel cell-neurite complexes in mouse touch domes. At embryonic stage 16.5, touch domes formed as clusters of Merkel cells, keratinocytes, and Bmp4-expressing dermal cells. Overexpression of Noggin at E14.5 disrupted touch-dome formation but did not affect hair-follicle specification, indicating a specific requirement for BMP signaling in touch-dome development. Two neuronal populations initially targeted touch domes, but only one persisted in mature domes. Keratin-17-expressing keratinocytes, not Merkel cells, were essential for establishing innervation patterns. The study identified critical cell types and signaling pathways for Merkel-cell afferent targeting in mechanosensory compartments.

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Research cited in this study

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