Lrig1- and Wnt-dependent niches dictate segregation of resident immune cells and melanocytes in murine tail epidermis.

ABSTRACT: The barrier-forming, self-renewing mammalian epidermis comprises keratinocytes, pigment-producing melanocytes and resident immune cells as first-line host defense. In murine tail skin, interfollicular epidermis patterns into pigmented 'scale' and hypopigmented 'interscale' epidermis. Why and how mature melanocytes accumulate in scale epidermis is unresolved. Here, we delineate a cellular hierarchy among epidermal cell types that determines skin patterning. Already during postnatal development, melanocytes co-segregate with newly forming scale compartments. Intriguingly, this process coincides with partitioning of both Langerhans cells and dendritic epidermal T cells to interscale epidermis, suggesting functional segregation of pigmentation and immune surveillance. Analysis of non-pigmented

SUBMITTER: Baess SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9382897 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature