Mesenchymal Meis2 controls whisker development independently from trigeminal sensory innervation.

ABSTRACT: Hair follicle development is initiated by reciprocal molecular interactions between the placode-forming epithelium and the underlying mesenchyme. Cell fate transformation in dermal fibroblasts generates a cell niche for placode induction by activation of signaling pathways WNT, EDA, and FGF in the epithelium. These successive paracrine epithelial signals initiate dermal condensation in the underlying mesenchyme. Although epithelial signaling from the placode to mesenchyme is better described, little is known about primary mesenchymal signals resulting in placode induction. Using genetic approach in mice, we show that Meis2 expression in cells derived from the neural crest is critical for whisker formation and also for branching of trigeminal nerves. While whisker formation is indepe

SUBMITTER: Kaplan MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11970903 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature