Oral communication, iL1

Official XXIst International Pigment Cell Conference website - 21-24 Sept 2011, Bordeaux - France | updated: September 04 2011

Melanocyte development: the journey to unknown territory

“To boldly go where no other cell has gone before”. This is the task to which neural crest cells have committed them self when segregating from the dorsal neural tube. They have been instructed by transcription factors such as Pax3 and Snail-2, providing them with the capacity to detach from the mother-tissue, in a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition. In order to forge their identity they reside in a temporary “staging area” where they are influenced by morphogenetic factors originating from the notochord or dorsal neural tube such as Wnt or TGF-beta-like molecules. Only after expressing specific cell surface receptors such as EndrB and c-kit, which are maintained in a positive feedback with transcription factors such as MITF, Sox10, Brn2, predetermined melanocyte precursors will go onto their journey to colonize the unknown periphery of their universe. Not much is know about the mechanisms and signaling pathways that allows them to lodge into their epidermal niches, where they provide pigmentation and sun-protection or alternatively reside in a dormant state, waiting to be awoken from their hibernation by extrinsic cues. Although their genetic equipment is perfectly evolved, mistakes in the board computer, such as B-RAF may cause the loss of the crew, ship or even the organism in which they are residing. Eventually, understanding the journey of melanocytes will allow us to face our sun and that of other solar systems without fear and hesitation.

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