PLX193550

GSE102271: Expression analysis of melanocyte stem cells from Mitfmi-vga9/+ mice reveals a role for MITF in the transcriptional regulation of innate immune gene expression

• Organsim mouse
• Type RNASEQ
• Target gene
• Project ARCHS4

Melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) and mouse models of hair graying serve as useful systems to uncover mechanisms involved in stem cell self-renewal and the maintenance of regenerating tissues. Interested in assessing genetic variants of hair graying, we found that the Mitfmi-vga9/+ strain of mice is susceptible to loss of McSC maintenance via ectopic McSC differentiation. Based on transcriptome and molecular analyses of Mitfmi-vga9/+ mice we report a novel role for MITF in the regulation of systemic innate immune gene expression. We also demonstrate that viral mimic (poly I:C) is sufficient to expose genetic susceptibility to hair graying. These observations point to a critical suppressor of innate immunity and the consequences of its dysregulation, and for melanocytes, both may have particular implications for the autoimmune, depigmenting disease vitiligo. SOURCE: Derek Gildea (dgildea@mail.nih.gov) - NHGRI/NIH