UV-Induced Wnt7a in the Human Skin Microenvironment Specifies the Fate of Neural Crest-Like Cells via Suppression of Notch.

ABSTRACT: Multipotent stem cells with neural crest-like properties have been identified in the dermis of human skin. These neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-like cells display self-renewal capacity and differentiate into neural crest derivatives, including epidermal pigment-producing melanocytes. NCSC-like cells share many properties with aggressive melanoma cells, such as high migratory capabilities and expression of the neural crest markers. However, little is known about which intrinsic or extrinsic signals determine the proliferation or differentiation of these neural crest-like stem cells. Here we show that, in NCSC-like cells, Notch signaling is highly activated, similar to melanoma cells. Inhibition of Notch signaling reduced the proliferation of NCSC-like cells, induced cell death, and downregul

SUBMITTER: Fukunaga-Kalabis M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4430391 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature