New Podcast Episode. Making Sense of Touch

Merkel cells are specialized touch-sensing cells in the skin that detect gentle pressure and support fine motor skills. They are sparsely distributed in the basal layer of the epidermis and are concentrated in sensitive areas such as whiskers or fingertips. Despite their important function, our understanding of their development is limited, particularly in humans, largely due to the lack of validated in vitro culture systems. Our guests today created new lab models to study Merkel cells using mouse whisker tissue cultures, mouse skin organoids, and human skin organoids. These models allowed them to study Merkel cells as they develop, validate the role of known signaling pathways, and even identify some new ones. Their work provides easier access to Merkel cells for future studies including disease models to understand the pathophysiology of these cells.  

Guests

• Ying Xiao, PhD, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China 

• Chaochen Wang, PhD, Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute, China

• Huipu Yuan, MD, PhD, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China

• Yajun Zhang, Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute, China 

Supporting Content: An innovative in vitro system unveils IGF1R signaling regulating Merkel cell generation, Stem Cell Reports