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Method Article
Direct conversion of human keratinocytic cells towards a melanocyte-like phenotype
Jochen Utikal
Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Corresponding Author
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In the recent past, the direct conversion of one cell type into another has been successfully accomplished for several cell lineages by ectopically overexpressing defined factors demonstrating that terminal differentiation is not necessarily a dead-end road. Moreover, the induction of a certain differentiation status can be achieved with varying factor combinations depending on the starting cell type. Here we present a method to directly convert keratinocytic cells towards a stable melanocyte-like phenotype. With this protocol melanocyte-like cells can be obtained 2-3 weeks after induction. These cells show a loss of keratinocyte characteristics and adopt typical melanocytic features. Subjection of cancer cells of keratinocytic origin to transdifferentation additionally abolished their tumorigenicity. Thus, this protocol represents a suitable tool for studying molecular mechanisms of differentiation of epidermal cell types and the connection between differentiation status and tumorigenicity.
Keywords
keratinocytes, squamous cell carcinoma, melanocytes, transdifferention
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Associated Publications
Loss of tumorigenic potential upon transdifferentiation from keratinocytic into melanocytic lineage
by Sabrina Fehrenbach, Daniel Novak, Mathias Bernhardt, +4
Scientific Reports (18 January, 2017)
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This is a preprint. It has not completed peer review.
Method Article
Direct conversion of human keratinocytic cells towards a melanocyte-like phenotype
Jochen Utikal
Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 02 Feb, 2017
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 License. Read Full License
In the recent past, the direct conversion of one cell type into another has been successfully accomplished for several cell lineages by ectopically overexpressing defined factors demonstrating that terminal differentiation is not necessarily a dead-end road. Moreover, the induction of a certain differentiation status can be achieved with varying factor combinations depending on the starting cell type. Here we present a method to directly convert keratinocytic cells towards a stable melanocyte-like phenotype. With this protocol melanocyte-like cells can be obtained 2-3 weeks after induction. These cells show a loss of keratinocyte characteristics and adopt typical melanocytic features. Subjection of cancer cells of keratinocytic origin to transdifferentation additionally abolished their tumorigenicity. Thus, this protocol represents a suitable tool for studying molecular mechanisms of differentiation of epidermal cell types and the connection between differentiation status and tumorigenicity.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Associated Publications
Loss of tumorigenic potential upon transdifferentiation from keratinocytic into melanocytic lineage
by Sabrina Fehrenbach, Daniel Novak, Mathias Bernhardt, +4
Scientific Reports (18 January, 2017)