Linked Life Data

16648663

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/16648663

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2006-5-1
pubmed:abstractText
Merkel cells have been assumed to guide nerve fibers to the skin. However, there has been little in vitro evidence that supports this hypothesis, because there is no suitable established culture system of Merkel cells. Here we show that Merkel cells isolated from rat footpad skin were successfully cultured in a monolayer with keratinocytes. Keratinocytes did not affect any structural changes in Merkel cells. When nerve cells (NG108-15 or PC12) were added to the culture system, both nerve fibers and cytoplasmic processes of Merkel cells outgrew and cooperatively organized synapse-like structures at their contact points. Nerve cells promoted Merkel cell survival, compared with keratinocytes only. Merkel cell proliferation was not detected in all conditions, even with nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The data suggest, firstly, that Merkel cells may guide nerve fibers to the skin by interacting with nerve cells; and, secondly, that nerve cells, but not keratinocytes, may produce some survival factors other than the cytokines above for Merkel cells, although Merkel cells may be a terminally differentiated cell type. Our method could open a way to study Merkel cell biology.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1347-3700
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
39-45
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2006
pubmed:articleTitle
Merkel cell-nerve cell interaction undergoes formation of a synapse-like structure in a primary culture.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology & Biodefence, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga 849-8501, Japan. yamasaki@med.saga-u.ac.jp
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article