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Kim and Holbrook: The Nerve-dependency of Merkel Cell Proliferation in Cultured Human Fetal Glabrous Skin
Original Article
Yonsei Medical Journal

Yonsei Medical Journal 2001; 42(3): 311-315.

Published online: 3 April 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2001.42.3.311

The Nerve-dependency of Merkel Cell Proliferation in Cultured Human Fetal Glabrous Skin

Dong Kun Kim1, Karen A Holbrook2

1Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Biological Structure and Medicine (Dermatology), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.; Current address: University of Georgia, Georgia, U.S.A.

Dong-Kun Kim, M.D. Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, C.P.O. Box 8044, Seoul 120-752, Korea. Tel: 82-2-361-5720, Fax: 82-31-900-0343, dongkun7@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Received 20 February 2001       Accepted 3 April 2000

Copyright © 2001 The Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

Merkel cells are thought to function as slowly adapting mechanoreceptors and are known as targets for sensory nerves. However, the nerve-dependency of Merkel cells remains controversial. In this respect, some investigators have found interregional differences between hairy and glabrous skin and others have shown intraregional differences within denervated rat touch domes. Differences between species have also been reported.
This study was performed to determine whether Merkel cells proliferate in vitro in the absence of the systemic factors, blood vessels and the intact nerves in human skin. Suspension organ culture was performed using fetal digits to investigate their in vitro proliferation. Merkel cells and cutaneous nerves were identified using antibodies to cytokeratin 20 and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), respectively. Fetal digits of 56-82 day gestational age were cultured in serum free medium in a high O2 (45%) environment. Tissues were harvested before starting culture (D0) and 1,4,7,14, 28d after culture. Merkel cells were observed in the volar pads and dorsal nail matrices at D0. After 28d of suspension organ culture, digits looked healthy structurally and the number of Merkel cells had increased. However, PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerves were markedly diminished after 1 day of culture and almost disappeared after 4 days.
Merkel cell proliferation in vitro suggested that Merkel cell development is probably nerve-independent in human fetal glabrous skin.

Keywords: Merkel cell, neural dependency, cytokeratin 20, PGP 9.5, suspension organ culture

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