| publication name | Generating LacZ-reporter transgenic mice to identify α1 (XIX) Collagen (Col19a1) expression in Dermal Papilla Cells |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ahmed Abo-Ahmed1,2, Dong-soo Lee1, Foad Farrag3, Xujun Han1, Md Nojebuzzaman1, Mohamed Attia2, Hatem Bahgat2, Ahmed Kassab2, Masatake Osawa1,* |
| year | 2019 |
| keywords | Mesenchymal, Morphogenesis, Col19a1, Dermal papilla, CRISPR/Cas9, Evolutionary. |
| journal | Benha Veterinary Medical Journal |
| volume | 30 |
| issue | 1 |
| pages | 380-395 |
| publisher | Not Available |
| Local/International | Local |
| Paper Link | Not Available |
| Full paper | download |
| Supplementary materials | Not Available |
Abstract
It is widely accepted the concept that tissue morphogenesis is mediated by reciprocal interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells, whereas the molecular details of these interactions remain largely elusive. The hair follicle (HF) is a mini-organ whose proper morphogenesis is governed by a series of interactions between epidermal and dermal cells. Due to its relatively simple structure, the HF affords an excellent model to decipher the molecular mechanisms of epithelial – mesenchymal interactions. To explore the molecular mechanisms by which Dermal Papilla (DP) cells regulate hair follicle formation, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis and identified numerous genes preferentially expressed in the DP cells. Among these, a gene encoding type XIX Collagen (Col19a1) has become the focus of our attention because of its extensive evolutionary conservation. We generated Col19a1LacZ reporter mice using CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce homologous recombination to recapitulate Col19a1 expression pattern. In mouse embryos, Col19a1LacZ expression is confined to the DP cells of hair follicles, ring sinus of whiskers, skeletal muscles and basal keratinocyte layer of skin epidermis of limbs and tail. Moreover, Col19LacZ started to be expressed at E14.5 in the dermal condensates of hair germ stage to the DP cells of mature hair follicle but not in the placode stage. Ongoing generation of Col19a1 null mice will ultimately explore the functional role of Col19a1 during HF morphogenesis. From this perspective, it is plausible to expect that future studies will provide additional functional evidence for Col19a1 during development which might be a useful tool to understand the molecular mechanisms undergoing HF stem cell regulation.