Direct conversion of human keratinocytic cells towards a melanocyte-like phenotype
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.
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Posted 02 Feb, 2017
Direct conversion of human keratinocytic cells towards a melanocyte-like phenotype
Posted 02 Feb, 2017
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.
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Figure 4
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