Genetic and Environmental Factors That Control Merkel Cell Development and Survival

July 2017 in “ D-Scholarship@Pitt (University of Pittsburgh) ”

Gregory Logan-Graf

TLDR Notch signaling stops Merkel cell development, and hair follicles help maintain them after skin injury.

This dissertation explored the genetic and environmental factors influencing Merkel cell development and survival. It was found that canonical Notch signaling inhibited Merkel cell specification during embryogenesis. Merkel cells were observed to persist longer than previously thought, and their production did not require direct contact from SAI neurons. Skin abrasions reduced Merkel cell numbers in hairless mice but not in hairy mice, indicating the importance of hair follicles in maintaining Merkel cell numbers post-injury. These findings provided insights into Merkel cell development and replacement, which could aid in understanding Merkel cell carcinoma.

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Research cited in this study

14 / 14 results

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