Wnt signaling influences the development of murine epidermal Langerhans cells.

ABSTRACT: Langerhans cells (LCs) are distinct dendritic cells (DCs) that populate stratified squamous epithelia. Despite extensive studies, our understanding of LC development is incomplete. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is required for LC development, but other epidermis-derived influences may also be important. Recently, EpCAM (CD326) has been identified as a cell surface protein discriminating LCs from Langerin(+) dermal DCs and other DCs in the skin. EpCAM is a known transcriptional target of the Wnt signaling pathway. We hypothesized that intraepidermal Wnt signaling might influence LC development. Addition of Wnt3A into cultures of bone-marrow-derived cells in combination with TGFβ1, GM-CSF, and M-CSF resulted in increased (33%; P<0.05) accumulation of EpCAM(+) DCs. In contrast, additi

SUBMITTER: Becker MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3156848 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature