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Aoki H, Tomita H, Hara A, Kunisada T. Postnatal Expression of Kitl Affects Pigmentation of the Epidermis. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:96-105.e2. [PMID: 37482288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.06.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
KITL signaling is important for melanocyte development in mammals; however, its function in the melanocyte stem cells in adult skin is not well-understood. In this study, we have generated genetically modified mice that express a Kitl transgene under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter to investigate the impact of its overexpression in embryo, young postnatal, and adult skin with intact hair follicles. We report that overexpression of KITL influences the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes as well as the self-renewal capacity of resident melanocyte stem cells within the follicular niche. Notably, activation of Kit-KITL signaling induced the migration of melanocytes from hair follicles to the epidermis. In addition, we demonstrate that a single pulse of Kitl transgene expression in postnatal mice results in long-lasting effects on melanocyte stem cells and their differentiated progeny as pigmented skin cells that persist through adulthood. Our findings indicate that regulation of KITL signaling in melanocyte lineage is crucial for melanocyte stem cell homeostasis and melanocyte cell differentiation in postnatal and adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kunisada
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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Minei R, Aoki H, Ogura A, Kunisada T. Compensatory gene expression potentially rescues impaired brain development in Kit mutant mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4166. [PMID: 36914660 PMCID: PMC10011532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
While loss-of-function mutations in the murine dominant white spotting/Kit (W) locus affect a diverse array of cell lineages and organs, the brain, organ with the highest expression show the least number of defective phenotypes. We performed transcriptome analysis of the brains of KitW embryos and found prominent gene expression changes specifically in the E12.5 KitW/W homozygous mutant. Although other potentially effective changes in gene expression were observed, uniform downregulation of ribosomal protein genes and oxidative phosphorylation pathway genes specifically observed in the E12.5 brain may comprise a genetic compensation system exerting protective metabolic effects against the deleterious effect of KitW/W mutation in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Minei
- Department of Bio-Science, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Shiga, Japan
| | - Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan
| | - Atsushi Ogura
- Department of Bio-Science, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Shiga, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kunisada
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.
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Zhao R, Trainor PA. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition during mammalian neural crest cell delamination. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 138:54-67. [PMID: 35277330 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a well-defined cellular process that was discovered in chicken embryos and described as "epithelial to mesenchymal transformation" [1]. During EMT, epithelial cells lose their epithelial features and acquire mesenchymal character with migratory potential. EMT has subsequently been shown to be essential for both developmental and pathological processes including embryo morphogenesis, wound healing, tissue fibrosis and cancer [2]. During the past 5 years, interest and study of EMT especially in cancer biology have increased exponentially due to the implied role of EMT in multiple aspects of malignancy such as cell invasion, survival, stemness, metastasis, therapeutic resistance and tumor heterogeneity [3]. Since the process of EMT in embryogenesis and cancer progression shares similar phenotypic changes, core transcription factors and molecular mechanisms, it has been proposed that the initiation and development of carcinoma could be attributed to abnormal activation of EMT factors usually required for normal embryo development. Therefore, developmental EMT mechanisms, whose timing, location, and tissue origin are strictly regulated, could prove useful for uncovering new insights into the phenotypic changes and corresponding gene regulatory control of EMT under pathological conditions. In this review, we initially provide an overview of the phenotypic and molecular mechanisms involved in EMT and discuss the newly emerging concept of epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). Then we focus on our current knowledge of a classic developmental EMT event, neural crest cell (NCC) delamination, highlighting key differences in our understanding of NCC EMT between mammalian and non-mammalian species. Lastly, we highlight available tools and future directions to advance our understanding of mammalian NCC EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Paul A Trainor
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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Taguchi N, Kitai R, Ando T, Nishimura T, Aoki H, Kunisada T. Protective effect of hydroxygenkwanin against hair graying induced by X-ray irradiation and repetitive plucking. JID INNOVATIONS 2022; 2:100121. [PMID: 35812723 PMCID: PMC9256660 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2022.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair graying in mice is caused by various injuries such as X-ray radiation and repeated plucking that ultimately damage melanocytes and their stem cells (melanocyte stem cells). In X-ray‒induced hair graying, injuries first manifest as a loss-of-niche function of hair follicular keratinocyte stem cells to maintain melanocyte stem cells. Thus, we hypothesized that hair follicular keratinocyte stem cells could be a practical target to prevent hair graying. In this study, we investigated the in vivo effect of the flavonoid hydroxygenkwanin, which has been shown to exert the best protection on human epidermal keratinocytes against in vitro X-ray‒induced cytological effects, using X-ray‒induced and repeated hair plucking‒induced hair graying mice models. We found that hydroxygenkwanin exerted a remarkable effect in preventing hair graying; however, when receptor Y kinase Kit-mutant mice were used, no prevention effect was observed. Therefore, we propose that Kit signaling might be involved in the hydroxygenkwanin-induced protective effect against hair graying.
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Conditional Deletion of Kit in Melanocytes: White Spotting Phenotype Is Cell Autonomous. J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135:1829-1838. [DOI: 10.1038/jid.2015.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Aoki H, Kunisada T. Deep into melanocyte stem cells: the role of Kit signaling in their establishment. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Gerding WM, Akkad DA, Epplen JT. Spotted Weimaraner dog due tode novo KITmutation. Anim Genet 2013; 44:605-6. [DOI: 10.1111/age.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. M. Gerding
- Human Genetics; Ruhr-University; 44780; Bochum; Germany
| | - D. A. Akkad
- Human Genetics; Ruhr-University; 44780; Bochum; Germany
| | - J. T. Epplen
- Human Genetics; Ruhr-University; 44780; Bochum; Germany
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Aoki H, Hara A, Motohashi T, Kunisada T. Keratinocyte stem cells but not melanocyte stem cells are the primary target for radiation-induced hair graying. J Invest Dermatol 2013; 133:2143-51. [PMID: 23549419 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2013.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced hair graying is caused by the ectopic differentiation of melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) in their niche located at the bulge region of the hair follicle. Keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) in the bulge region are an important component of that niche. However, little is known about the relationship between MSC differentiation and the KSC niche during IR-induced hair graying. We found that both follicular MSCs and KSCs were affected by IR by using immunohistochemical detection of γH2AX as a genotoxicity marker. We also found that KSCs prepared from irradiated mice were functionally affected by IR as indicated by their reduced colony-forming activity in culture and the delayed hair cycle in vivo. However, these effects of IR on KSCs were temporal. The MSC population, which proliferated and differentiated to melanocytes, was persistently maintained after irradiation. In addition to the loss of colony-forming activity, irradiated keratinocytes including KSCs suppressed the colony formation of MSCs in vitro. Furthermore, pigmented hairs were not reconstituted in vivo in the presence of irradiated KSCs or keratinocytes. These results provide a previously unreported insight that the primary target of IR during the induction of hair graying is follicular KSCs rather than MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu, Japan
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Aoki H, Hara A, Motohashi T, Kunisada T. Protective effect of Kit signaling for melanocyte stem cells against radiation-induced genotoxic stress. J Invest Dermatol 2011; 131:1906-15. [PMID: 21633369 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2011.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Radiation-induced hair graying is caused by irreversible defects in the self-renewal and/or development of follicular melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicles. Kit signaling is an essential growth and differentiation signaling pathway for various cell lineages including melanocytes, and its radioprotective effects have been shown in hematopoietic cells. However, it is uncertain whether Kit signaling exerts a radioprotective effect for melanocytes. In this study, we found that various loss-of-function mutations of Kit facilitate radiation-induced hair graying. In contrast, transgenic mice expressing the ligand for Kit (Kitl) in the epidermis have significantly reduced levels of radiation-induced hair graying. The X-ray doses used did not show a systemic lethal effect, indicating that the in vivo radiosensitivity of Kit mutants is mainly caused by the damaged melanocyte stem cell population. X-ray-damaged melanocyte stem cells seemed to take the fate of ectopically pigmented melanocytes in the bulge regions of hair follicles in vivo. Endothelin 3, another growth and differentiation factor for melanocytes, showed a lesser radioprotective effect compared with Kitl. These results indicate the prevention of radiation-induced hair graying by Kit signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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Aoki H, Hara A, Motohashi T, Osawa M, Kunisada T. Functionally distinct melanocyte populations revealed by reconstitution of hair follicles in mice. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2010; 24:125-35. [PMID: 21054816 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2010.00801.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hair follicle reconstitution analysis was used to test the contribution of melanocytes or their precursors to regenerated hair follicles. In this study, we first confirmed the process of chimeric hair follicle regeneration by both hair keratinocytes and follicular melanocytes. Then, as first suggested from the differential growth requirements of epidermal skin melanocytes and non-cutaneous or dermal melanocytes, we confirmed the inability of the latter to be involved as follicular melanocytes to regenerate hair follicles during the hair reconstitution assay. This clear functional discrimination between non-cutaneous or dermal melanocytes and epidermal melanocytes suggests the presence of two different melanocyte cell lineages, a finding that might be important in the pathogenesis of melanocyte-related diseases and melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu, Japan
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Aoki H, Yamada Y, Hara A, Kunisada T. Two distinct types of mouse melanocyte: differential signaling requirement for the maintenance of non-cutaneous and dermal versus epidermal melanocytes. Development 2009; 136:2511-21. [PMID: 19553284 DOI: 10.1242/dev.037168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Unlike the thoroughly investigated melanocyte population in the hair follicle of the epidermis, the growth and differentiation requirements of the melanocytes in the eye, harderian gland and inner ear - the so-called non-cutaneous melanocytes - remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the factors that regulate melanocyte development on the stem cells or the precursors of these non-cutaneous melanocytes. In general, a reduction in KIT receptor tyrosine kinase signaling leads to disordered melanocyte development. However, melanocytes in the eye, ear and harderian gland were revealed to be less sensitive to KIT signaling than cutaneous melanocytes. Instead, melanocytes in the eye and harderian gland were stimulated more effectively by endothelin 3 (ET3) or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signals than by KIT signaling, and the precursors of these melanocytes expressed the lowest amount of KIT. The growth and differentiation of these non-cutaneous melanocytes were specifically inhibited by antagonists for ET3 and HGF. In transgenic mice induced to express ET3 or HGF in their skin and epithelial tissues from human cytokeratin 14 promoters, the survival and differentiation of non-cutaneous and dermal melanocytes, but not epidermal melanocytes, were enhanced, apparently irrespective of KIT signaling. These results provide a molecular basis for the clear discrimination between non-cutaneous or dermal melanocytes and epidermal melanocytes, a difference that might be important in the pathogenesis of melanocyte-related diseases and melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Aoki
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration, and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu, Japan
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Motohashi T, Yamanaka K, Chiba K, Aoki H, Kunisada T. Unexpected multipotency of melanoblasts isolated from murine skin. Stem Cells 2009; 27:888-97. [PMID: 19350691 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Melanoblasts, precursor of melanocytes, are generated from the neural crest and differentiate into melanocytes during their migration throughout the entire body. The melanoblasts are thought to be progenitor cells that differentiate only into melanocyte. Here, we show that melanoblasts, even after they have already migrated throughout the skin, are multipotent, being able to generate neurons, glial cells, and smooth muscle cells in addition to melanocytes. We isolated Kit-positive and CD45-negative (Kit+/CD45-) cells from both embryonic and neonate skin by flow cytometry and cultured them on stromal cells. The Kit+/CD45- cells formed colonies containing neurons, glial cells, and smooth muscle cells, together with melanocytes. The Kit+/CD45- cells expressed Mitf-M, Sox10, and Trp-2, which are genes known to be expressed in melanoblasts. Even a single Kit+/CD45- cell formed colonies that contained neurons, glial cells, and melanocytes, confirming their multipotential cell fate. The colonies formed from Kit+/CD45- cells retained Kit+/CD45- cells even after 21 days in culture and these retained cells also differentiated into neurons, glial cells, and melanocytes, confirming their self-renewal capability. When the Kit signal was inhibited by the antagonist ACK2, the Kit+/CD45- cells did not form colonies that contained multidifferentiated cells. These results indicate that melanoblasts isolated from skin have multipotency and self-renewal capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Motohashi
- Department of Tissue and Organ Development, Regeneration and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
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Abstract
Mice transgenic for the Kit Val620Ala mutation, which in humans has been associated with progressive piebaldism, exhibit dominant white spotting but show no evidence of progressive depigmentation. These results are consistent with the previous hypothesis that progressive piebaldism might result from digenic inheritance, of the KIT(V620A) mutation that causes piebaldism and a second, unknown locus that causes progressive depigmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Spritz
- Human Medical Genetics Program, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Mail-stop 8300, PO Box 6511, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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