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Merkel cells and neurons keep in touch.

Seung-Hyun Woo1, Ellen A Lumpkin2, Ardem Patapoutian1

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Trends in Cell Biology
|December 7, 2014
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Summary

Merkel cells are mechanosensitive cells crucial for touch transduction, utilizing Piezo2. Recent studies confirm their role in sensing touch, resolving a long-standing scientific debate.

Keywords:
Piezomechanoreceptormechanosensory cellssomatosensorytouch dome

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The Merkel cell-neurite complex is a specialized vertebrate touch receptor.
  • The precise roles of Merkel cells and associated neurons in sensory transduction have remained unclear for over a century.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the function of Merkel cells in mechanotransduction.
  • To resolve the debate regarding the mechanosensory capabilities of Merkel cells.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the role of Piezo2 in Merkel cell function.
  • Analyzed sensory transduction pathways in the skin.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that Merkel cells are mechanosensitive and mediate touch transduction via Piezo2.
  • Evidence suggests Merkel cells are principal sites of mechanotransduction, with some studies indicating a role for both Merkel cells and neurons.

Conclusions:

  • Merkel cells are confirmed to be mechanosensory cells involved in touch transduction.
  • These findings settle a long-standing debate and open avenues for studying Merkel cell-neuron communication.