2019
Dissection of Merkel cell formation in hairy and glabrous skin reveals a common requirement for FGFR2‐mediated signalling
Nguyen MB, Valdes VJ, Cohen I, Pothula V, Zhao D, Zheng D, Ezhkova E. Dissection of Merkel cell formation in hairy and glabrous skin reveals a common requirement for FGFR2‐mediated signalling. Experimental Dermatology 2019, 28: 374-382. PMID: 30758073, PMCID: PMC6488392, DOI: 10.1111/exd.13901.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell formationCommon genetic programPaw skinMerkel cellsLineage-tracing experimentsBack skinTranscriptome studiesMerkel cell developmentGenetic programMAPK signalingPrimary hair folliclesCell developmentSpecialized structuresMechanosensory cellsSimilar regulatorsUpstream factorsCritical functionsPrecursor cellsFGFR2SignalingCellsTouch domesGlabrous skinMurineHair follicles
2018
PRC1 Fine-tunes Gene Repression and Activation to Safeguard Skin Development and Stem Cell Specification
Cohen I, Zhao D, Bar C, Valdes VJ, Dauber-Decker KL, Nguyen MB, Nakayama M, Rendl M, Bickmore WA, Koseki H, Zheng D, Ezhkova E. PRC1 Fine-tunes Gene Repression and Activation to Safeguard Skin Development and Stem Cell Specification. Cell Stem Cell 2018, 22: 726-739.e7. PMID: 29727681, PMCID: PMC5944606, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.04.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-canonical PRC1 complexesStem cell specificationPRC1 complexesCell specificationSkin developmentDiverse rolesRepressive Complex 1Essential chromatin regulatorsPrecise developmental programExpression of genesCanonical PRC1PRC1 bindsPRC1 functionChromatin regulatorsGene repressionActive genesCell identityRepressor functionDevelopmental programSC formationFurther dissectionGenesPRC2PRC1Function studies
2016
Polycomb-Mediated Repression and Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Interact to Regulate Merkel Cell Specification during Skin Development
Perdigoto CN, Dauber KL, Bar C, Tsai PC, Valdes VJ, Cohen I, Santoriello FJ, Zhao D, Zheng D, Hsu YC, Ezhkova E. Polycomb-Mediated Repression and Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Interact to Regulate Merkel Cell Specification during Skin Development. PLOS Genetics 2016, 12: e1006151. PMID: 27414999, PMCID: PMC4944976, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006151.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMerkel cell specificationCell specificationPrimary hair folliclesLoss of PolycombImportance of ShhCell differentiation programHair follicle functionSonic hedgehog (Shh) signalingPRC2 targetsSpecialized keratinocytesEpidermal progenitorsDevelopmental programHair folliclesEpigenetic processesDifferentiation programHedgehog signalingShh ligandMature Merkel cellsShh signalingSkin developmentMurine dorsal skinEpidermal cellsMerkel cellsPRC2 lossCell formation
2014
Heat Shock Alters the Expression of Schizophrenia and Autism Candidate Genes in an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model of the Human Telencephalon
Lin M, Zhao D, Hrabovsky A, Pedrosa E, Zheng D, Lachman HM. Heat Shock Alters the Expression of Schizophrenia and Autism Candidate Genes in an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model of the Human Telencephalon. PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e94968. PMID: 24736721, PMCID: PMC3988108, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094968.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCopy number variantsCandidate genesHS-inducible genesMaternal immune activationPluripotent stem cell modelsCellular stress pathwaysInduced Pluripotent Stem Cell ModelDisease-causing genetic variantsHeritable neuropsychiatric disorderStem cell modelAutism candidate genesPluripotent stem cellsCommon environmental stressorsCellular stressorsGenes decreasesRNA-seqASD candidatesASD genesHeat shockCopy lossHuman brain developmentEnvironmental stressorsHeat shock altersGenesStress pathways