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The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...
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The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
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Cells of the Epidermis01:24

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The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
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A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
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Hair growth begins with the production of keratinocytes by the basal cells of the hair bulb. As new cells are deposited at the hair bulb, the hair shaft is pushed through the follicle toward the surface. Keratinization is completed as the cells are pushed to the skin surface to form the shaft of hair that is externally visible. The external hair is completely dead and composed entirely of keratin. Hair can be cut or shaven without damaging the hair structure because the cut is superficial. Most...
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Simple Detection of Primary Cilia by Immunofluorescence
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Quiescent melanocytes form primary cilia.

Madeleine Le Coz1, Alexandre Benmerah, Lionel Larue

  • 1Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Centre de Recherche, Institut Curie, Orsay, France; CNRS UMR3347, Orsay, France; INSERM U1021, Orsay, France; Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Equipe labellisée, Orsay, France.

Experimental Dermatology
|April 25, 2014
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Summary

Melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigment, can form primary cilia, which are sensory organelles. This discovery offers new insights into cell signaling during development and disease.

Keywords:
acetylated tubulinpericentrinproliferation

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Melanocytes are crucial pigment-producing cells in the skin.
  • Primary cilia are known sensory organelles in various cell types.
  • The presence and function of primary cilia in melanocytes were previously uncharacterized.

Discussion:

  • This study demonstrates, for the first time, that melanocytes can form primary cilia in vitro.
  • These cilia are immotile and function as sensory organelles.
  • Cilia formation is observed under specific conditions: high cell density (confluence) or nutrient deprivation.

Key Insights:

  • Melanocyte primary cilia formation is a novel finding with significant implications.
  • These sensory cilia likely play a role in mediating cellular responses to environmental cues.
  • The observation provides a new avenue for studying melanocyte biology.

Outlook:

  • This finding will enhance understanding of signal transduction in melanocytes.
  • It offers potential insights into embryonic development, adult homeostasis, and melanoma.
  • Further research can explore the precise signaling pathways regulated by these cilia.