Masatake Osawa

TL;DR: It is reported that stem cells of the melanocyte lineage can be identified, using Dct-lacZ transgenic mice, in the lower permanent portion of mouse hair follicles throughout the hair cycle and indicated that the niche has a dominant role in the fate determination of melanocyte stem-cell progeny.

TL;DR: Evidence is provided that Notch signaling, acting through Hes1, plays a crucial role in the survival of immature Mbs by preventing initiation of apoptosis.

TL;DR: The data suggest the existence of a mechanism that induces the downregulation of various key molecules for MC proliferation or differentiation in MSCs located in the niche and propose that the niche is an environment that insulates SCs from various activating stimuli and maintains them in a quiescent state.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that retrovirus-mediated transduction of CD34(low/-)c-Kit+Sca-1+Lin- (34-KSL) cells with the HES-1 gene, which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor functioning downstream of the Notch receptor, preserves the long-term reconstituting activity of these cells in vitro.

TL;DR: It is shown that Notch signaling determines spinous cell fate and induces terminal differentiation by a mechanism independent of Hes1, but Hes1 is required for maintenance of the immature state of spinous cells.