Merkel Cells Are Multimodal Sensory Cells: A Review of Study Methods (original) (raw)
Merkel cells (MCs) are rare multimodal epidermal sensory cells. Due to their interactions with slowly adapting type 1 (SA1) Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptor (Aβ-LTMRs) afferents neurons to form Merkel complexes, they are considered to be part of the main tactile terminal organ involved in the light touch sensation. This function has been explored over time by ex vivo, in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. Ex vivo studies have made it possible to characterize the topography, morphology, and cellular environment of these cells. The interactions of MCs with surrounding cells continue to be studied by ex vivo but also in vitro approaches. Indeed, in vitro models have improved the understanding of communication of MCs with other cells present in the skin at the cellular and molecular levels. As for in vivo methods, the sensory role of MC complexes can be demonstrated by observing physiological or pathological behavior after genetic modification in mouse models. In silico models ar...
Sign up for access to the world's latest research.
checkGet notified about relevant papers
checkSave papers to use in your research
checkJoin the discussion with peers
checkTrack your impact
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.