Evidence for Polymorphism of Merkel Cells in the Adult Human Oral Mucosa.

Tachibana, Tamiko; Kamegai, Takuya; Takahashi, Naoki; Nawa, Tokio

doi:10.1679/aohc.61.115

Cited by 33 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some recent physiological data support this idea (Chan et al 1996;Senok and Baumann 1997;Tazaki and Suzuki 1998). On the other hand, recent immunohistochemical studies have shown that there are non-innervated MCs in the oral mucosae of humans and rodents (Ramieri et al 1992;Hillinges et al 1996;Tachibana et al 1997Tachibana et al , 1998. These non-innervated MCs extend secretory processes towards the basal lamina (Tachibana et al 1997(Tachibana et al , 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis

Tachibana

Fujiwara

Nawa

2000

Anatomy and Embryology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The origin and mechanism of the differentiation and proliferation of Merkel cells are enigmatic. A preliminary study in our laboratory showed that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa emerge after birth. This is in contrast to the case of similar cells in the skin that differentiate during the embryonic period prior to the establishment of peripheral nerve innervation. We studied immunohistochemically the developmental timings of Merkel cells and peripheral nerves in the rat palatine mucosa using antibodies to cytokeratins 18 and 20, PGP 9.5, and CGRP using developing palates of prenatal and postnatal rats. We also studied the potency of mitosis in Merkel cells by immunohistochemistry using antibodies for a cell proliferation marker Ki67 and cyclin D-kinase inhibitors p16, p21 and p27. It was shown that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa differentiate postnatally, after the development of peripheral nerve fiber terminals was almost established. The emergence and increase in number of Merkel cells progressed in an anterior-to-posterior wave. Newly appearing Merkel cells were usually negative for anti-cytokeratin 20 antibody but gained affinity for the antibody with progress of maturation. All Merkel cells in the palatine mucosa were negative for anti-Ki67 antibody but positive for anti-p27 antibody. These results indicate that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa are not responsible for the development of peripheral nerve fiber terminals and that these cells differentiate in situ from intraepithelial stem cells.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis

Tachibana

Fujiwara

Nawa

2000

Anatomy and Embryology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Their frequency was calculated. We also investigated effects of some cytokines on Merkel cell proliferation, because Merkel cells tend to be seen more numerously in inflammatory lesions (Tachibana et al, 1998). Merkel cells with or without nerve cells were stimulated every day with 10 ng ml -1 interleukin-6 (IL-6, Chemicon International) or 100 ng ml -1 tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, Chemicon International).…”

Section: Merkel Cell Proliferationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since Merkel cells tend to be seen more numerously in inflammatory lesions (Tachibana et al, 1998), we examined the effect of some cytokines on Merkel cell proliferation. IL-6 and TNF-α tested here did not induce an increase in the number of Merkel cells or an increase in BrdU intake.…”

Section: Proliferation Of Merkel Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Merkel Cell-Nerve Cell Interaction Undergoes Formation of a Synapse-like Structure in a Primary Culture

Shimohira-Yamasaki

Toda

Narisawa

et al. 2006

Cell Struct. Funct.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. 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-α. 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.

show abstract

“…In adult mammalian skin, MCs usually form synaptic contacts with type I mechanosensory nerve terminals, and the complexes of MCs and axon terminals are frequently called MC-neurite complexes. However, it has recently been shown that mammalian oral mucosa frequently contains non-innervated MCs (Tachibana et al 1997(Tachibana et al , 1998. Such non-innervated MCs are particularly abundant in rodent oral mucosa (Tachibana et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunohistochemical expression of G protein α-subunit isoforms in rat and monkey Merkel cell-neurite complexes

Tachibana

Endoh

Nawa

2001

Histochem Cell Biol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The true function of Merkel cells (MCs) is still enigmatic, though the localization of various kinds of neurotransmitter-like substances in MCs has been revealed by immunohistochemistry. Most of the neurotransmitters act on target cells via seven-transmembrane receptors coupled to heterotrimeric G proteins. The heterotrimeric G proteins include various subfamilies that contribute to different signal transduction pathways. Therefore investigation of specific types of G proteins in MCs and related axon terminals (MC-axon terminals) should contribute to the elucidation of the function of MCs. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of alpha-subunit isoforms of G proteins in MC-neurite complexes of the rat and monkey by enzymatic and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. MC-axon terminals of the rat and monkey showed positive immunoreactions of Galphao and Galphai1. Those of the monkey also showed a weak immunoreaction of Galphas. On the other hand, MCs of both animals showed positive immunoreactions of Galphao, Galphai1, Galphaq, and Galphaz. In addition, MCs of the monkey showed weak immunoreactions of Galphas. Galphao- and Galphai1-like immunoreactions in the MC-axon terminals suggest that MCs suppressively regulate receptive functions of type I mechanosensory nerve terminals. On the other hand, the localization of Galpha-subunits in MCs suggests that these cells are regulated with hormones, neurotransmitter-like substances, or growth factors.

show abstract

Evidence for Polymorphism of Merkel Cells in the Adult Human Oral Mucosa.

Cited by 33 publications

References 23 publications

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis

Merkel Cell-Nerve Cell Interaction Undergoes Formation of a Synapse-like Structure in a Primary Culture

Immunohistochemical expression of G protein α-subunit isoforms in rat and monkey Merkel cell-neurite complexes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About