Gene expression profile at single cell level of Merkel cells from embryonic, neonatal and postnatal mouse skin
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE213104 | GEO | 2026/02/06
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Merkel cells (MCs), specialized neuroendocrine touch sensors within the epidermis, play a crucial role in tactile sensation. To gain deeper insignts into their molecular characteristics, we employed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore the transcriptome of MCs in comparsion to basal keratinocytes in neonatal mouse skin.
2024-06-01 | GSE264433 | GEO
Project description:Epithelial-neuronal signaling is essential for sensory encoding in touch, itch and nociception; however, little is known about the release mechanisms and neurotransmitter receptors through which skin cells govern neuronal excitability. Merkel cells are mechanosensory epidermal cells that have long been proposed to activate neuronal afferents through chemical synaptic transmission. We employed a set of classical criteria for chemical neurotransmission as framework to directly test this hypothesis. RNA sequencing of adult Merkel cells demonstrated that they express presynaptic molecules and biosynthetic machinery for adrenergic transmission. Moreover, live-cell imaging directly demonstrated that Merkel cells mediate activity- and VMAT-dependent release of fluorescent catecholamine neurotransmitter analogues. Touch-evoked firing in Merkel-cell afferents was inhibited either by pre-synaptic silencing of SNARE-mediated vesicle release from Merkel cells or by neuronal deletion of b2-adrenergic receptors. Together, these results identify both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms through which Merkel cells excite mechanosensory afferents to encode gentle touch.
2018-11-08 | GSE114336 | GEO
Project description:Merkel cells are epidermal mechanoreceptor cells responsible for the perception of gentle touch. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer. Although MCC histologically resembles Merkel cells, the cell of origin for MCC is unknown. MCC frequently contains integrated Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a small DNA tumor virus with widespread prevalence. Whether MCPyV can transform Merkel cells is unknown. Here, we describe the isolation and long-term expansion of human Merkel cells from neonatal foreskin. We validated the expression of several Merkel cell-related factors by RNASeq, and assessed the ultrastructure by electron microscopy. Culture of Merkel cell preparations on an artificial basement membrane promoted the formation of structures containing both Merkel and non-Merkel cell populations. To determine whether Merkel cells were susceptible to transformation, we expressed tumor-derived MCPyV T antigens and additional oncogenes. We were unable to demonstrate tumorigenesis in immunodeficient mice, but were able to detect T antigen expression from excised cells weeks after implantation. These results highlight that foreskin-isolated Merkel cells can be propagated extensively, sustain expression of MCPyV T antigens, but are not susceptible to transformation by MCPyV, suggesting that Merkel cells from non-glabrous skin may not be a cell of origin for MCC.
2017-04-01 | GSE79657 | GEO
Project description:Transcriptional profile of murine touch dome keratinocytes sorted on the basis of alpha6-integrin, CD34, Sca1 and CD200 surface markers. Compared to the transcriptional profile of murine interfollicular epidermis (IFE) without the touch dome keratinocytes
2010-11-15 | E-MEXP-2925 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with growing incidence. In research immortalized cell lines are used for in vitro experiments in order to better understand the biology of this malignant disease.
2020-01-09 | PXD008181 | Pride
Project description:Merkel cell carcinoma is supposed to be derived from Merkel cells after infection by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) and other poorly known events. A transcriptional profiling with cDNA microarrays was performed on cells from MCV+ Merkel cell carcinomas and isolated normal Merkel cells. This microarray revealed numerous significantly upregulated genes and down-regulated genes. The extensive list of genes identified in these experiments provides a large body of potentially valuable information of Merkel cell carcinoma carcinogenesis and could represent a source of potential targets for cancer therapy. Two-conditions experiment, MCV vs Normal Merkel Cell. Biological replicates : 4 MCV (Cy5), 1 control = pool of Normal Merkel cells from 3 liftings
2014-01-01 | E-GEOD-50434 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Merkel Cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. The conditions and cell type(s) of MCC are unknown. Virus positive MCC (VP-MCC) is driven by T antigens expressed from integrated Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). We found that VP-MCC required lineage-specific neuroendocrine transcription factors (TFs), including ATOH1, INSM1, ISL1, LHX3, POU4F3, and SOX2 that were central to core regulatory (CR) transcriptional circuitry. MCPyV small T antigen and host CR TFs co-bound VP-MCC super enhancers while T antigen expression was directly regulated by LHX3 and ISL1, establishing an interlocking network between host CR circuitry and the oncovirus. Moreover, MCPyV integration sites were enriched near VP- MCC super enhancers, further suggesting a functional relationship between viral oncogenesis and core neuroendocrine circuitry.
2025-05-24 | GSE261681 | GEO
Project description:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor with high mortality rates. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), identified in the majority of MCC, may drive tumorigenesis via viral T antigens. However, mechanisms underlying pathogenesis in MCPyV-negative MCC remain poorly understood. To nominate genes contributing to pathogenesis of MCPyV-negative MCC, we performed DNA microarray analysis on 30 MCCs. MCPyV status of MCCs was determined by PCR for viral DNA and RNA. 1593 probe-sets were differentially expressed between MCPyV-negative and -positive MCC, with significant differential expression defined as at least 2-fold change in either direction and p-value of ≤ 0.05. MCPyV-negative tumors showed decreased RB1 expression, whereas MCPyV-positive tumors were enriched for immune response genes. Validation studies included immunohistochemistry demonstration of decreased RB protein expression in MCPyV-negative tumors and increased peritumoral CD8+ T lymphocytes surrounding MCPyV-positive tumors. In conclusion, our data suggest that loss of RB1 expression may play an important role in tumorigenesis of MCPyV-negative MCC. Functional and clinical validation studies are needed to determine whether this tumor suppressor pathway represents an avenue for targeted therapy. We used microarrays to characterize global gene expression patterns related to Merkel cell polyomavirus status in Merkel cell carcinoma. Furthermore, we compared Merkel cell carcinoma to less aggressive primary cutaneous carcinomas. We utilized flash-frozen tumor tissue from primary Merkel cell carcinomas, metastatic Merkel cell carcinomas, primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, and basal cell carcinomas. Merkel cell carcinoma cell lines, which represent a pure population of tumor cells, were also included. Merkel cell polyomavirus status was determined at the DNA and RNA level using multiple primers for viral T-antigen and capsid protein sequences. This Series represents two analyses - one with new Samples normalized together, and another with some of the new Samples re-normalized with Samples previously submitted under Series GSE13355. The latter group contain 'renormalized' in the titles.
2012-10-18 | E-GEOD-39612 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Merkel cell carcinoma is supposed to be derived from Merkel cells after infection by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and other poorly known events. A transcriptional profiling with cDNA microarrays was performed on cells from MCPyV(+) Merkel cell carcinomas and isolated normal Merkel cells. This microarray revealed numerous significantly upregulated genes and downregulated genes. The extensive list of genes identified in these experiments provides a large body of potentially valuable information of Merkel cell carcinoma carcinogenesis and could represent a source of potential targets for cancer therapy.
2014-01-01 | GSE50434 | GEO
Project description:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive, neuroendocrine skin cancer that lacks actionable mutations, which could be utilized for targeted therapies. Epigenetic regulators governing cell identity may represent unexplored therapeutic entry points. Here, we targeted epigenetic regulators in a pharmacological screen and discovered that the lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (LSD1/KDM1A) is required for MCC growth in vitro and in vivo. We show that LSD1 inhibition in MCC disrupts the LSD1-CoREST complex leading to displacement and degradation of HMG20B (BRAF35), a poorly characterized complex member that is essential for MCC proliferation. Inhibition of LSD1 causes derepression of transcriptional master regulators of the neuronal lineage, activates a gene expression signature resembling normal Merkel cells, and induces cell cycle arrest and cell death. Our study unveils the importance of LSD1 for proliferation and maintaining cell identity in MCC. There is growing evidence that cancer cells exploit cellular plasticity and dedifferentiation programs to evade destruction by the immune system. The combination of LSD1 inhibitors with checkpoint inhibitors may thus represent a promising treatment strategy for MCC patients.
2020-11-03 | PXD020590 | Pride