Elsevier

Developmental Biology

Volume 215, Issue 2, 15 November 1999, Pages 155-166
Developmental Biology

Regular Article
Regulation of E- and P-Cadherin Expression Correlated with Melanocyte Migration and Diversification

https://doi.org/10.1006/dbio.1999.9478Get rights and content
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Abstract

Melanocytes (Mc) and their progenitors melanoblasts (Mb) are derived from the neural crest and migrate along the dorsolateral pathway to colonize the dermis, the epidermis, and finally the hair matrix. To examine the involvement of cadherins in the migration of Mc lineage cells, we combined flow cytometric analysis of dissociated live cells with immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections to quantify the level of cadherin expression on the surface of Mb/Mc. At 11.5 days postcoitum, Mb are in the dermis and are E-cadherinP-cadherin (E-cadP-cad). During the next 48 h, a 200-fold increase of E-cadherin expression is induced on the surface of Mb prior to their entry into the epidermis, thereby forming a homogeneous E-cadhighP-cad−/low population. The cadherin expression pattern then diversifies, giving rise to three populations, an E-cadP-cad dermal population, E-cadhighP-cadlow epidermal population, and E-cadP-cadmed-high follicular population. In all three populations, the patterns of expression are region-specific, being identical with those of surrounding cells such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and are preserved before and after pigmentation. While most of the epidermal Mb/Mc disappear after the neonatal stage in normal mice, forced expression of steel factor in the epidermis of transgenic mice promotes survival of epidermal Mb/Mc, maintaining epidermal-type cadherin expression pattern (E-cadhighP-cadlow) throughout the postnatal life. These findings indicate the involvement of extrinsic cues in coordinating the cadherin expression pattern of Mb/Mc and suggest a role for E- and P-cadherins in guiding Mc progenitors to their final destinations.

Keywords

melanocyte
melanoblast
cadherins
E-cadherin
P-cadherin
expression
migration
diversification
colonization
quantitative
qualitative
microenvironment
steel factor (SLF)
flow cytometry
epidermis
dermis
hair follicles
hair matrix

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1

To whom correspondence should be addressed at present address: Department of Molecular Genetics, Kyoto University, Shogoin Kawaharacho 53, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. Fax: 81-75-751-4169. E-mail: [email protected].