Project/Area Number |
20591356
|
Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
|
Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Dermatology
|
Research Institution | St.Marianna University School of Medicine |
Principal Investigator |
KAWAKAMI Tamihiro St.Marianna University School of Medicine, 医学部, 准教授 (20297659)
|
Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2010
|
Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
|
Budget Amount *help |
¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2008: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
|
Keywords | メラノサイト / メラノーマ / BMP / Kit / Mitf / Ret / 神経冠細胞 / 悪性黒色腫 / マウス神経冠培義系 / 血管炎 / 抗リン脂質抗体 / LAMP2 / マウス神経冠培養系 / アポトーシス |
Research Abstract |
We previously established three distinct cell populations of mouse neural crest (NC) cells, NCCmelb4, NCCmelb4M5 and NCCmelan5. BMP4 is activated and is involved in the regulation of Kit expression on most immature melanocyte precursors. We further investigated the influence of BMP4 in vitro using primary NC cells cultured from wild-type mice. Addition of BMP4 to the medium increased the number of Kit-positive cells compared to untreated controls. We have identified BMP4 as an important factor for prepubertal Kit-negative melanoblasts just prior to entering the Kit-dependent cycle of melanogenesis. Western blotting revealed expression of the Ret protein in NCCmelb4M5 and in Mel-Ret cells, but in contrast, there was no expression of the Ret protein in NCCmelb4 or NCCmelan5 cells. Immunostaining revealed that NCCmelb4M5 and Mel-Ret cells are positive for Ret, but NCCmelb4 and NCCmelan5 cells are negative for Ret. Thus, Ret protein is expressed in most immature melanoblasts, while melanocytes are negative for Ret. Based on these findings, the combined effects of Ret and BMP4 might provide important clues towards understanding the roles and working mechanisms in melanocyte development.
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