Dendritic <i>atoh1a+</i> cells serve as transient intermediates during zebrafish Merkel cell development and regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Sensory cells often adopt specific morphologies that aid in the detection of external stimuli. Merkel cells encode gentle touch stimuli in vertebrate skin and adopt a reproducible shape characterized by spiky, actin-rich microvilli that emanate from the cell surface. The mechanism by which Merkel cells acquire this stereotyped morphology from basal keratinocyte progenitors is unknown. Here, we establish that dendritic Merkel cells (dMCs) express atonal homolog 1a (atoh1a), extend dynamic filopodial processes, and arise in transient waves during zebrafish skin development and regeneration. We find that dMCs share molecular similarities with both basal keratinocytes and Merkel cells, yet display mesenchymal-like behaviors, including local cell motility and proliferation within the epi

SUBMITTER: Craig EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10515958 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature