Skin-Derived Precursor Cells as an In Vitro Modelling Tool for the Study of Type 1 Neurofibromatosis
Figure 2
Isolation of SKPs from healthy skin and a neurofibroma of an NF1 patient. (a) Dermal multipotent stem cells form spheres in vitro, in response to EGF and FGF. In NF1 patients, SKPs from healthy skin should give rise to NF1+/− SKPs in vitro (a1). SKPs can differentiate into glial, neuronal, and mesodermal lineages. If SKPs are isolated from NF1 patient neurofibromas, NF1+/− SKPs (b1) are expected to form in vitro, under standard culture conditions. If NF1−/− (b2) SKPs may be isolated has to be determined. If SKPs are the cell of origin of neurofibromas, they might present a predisposition to differentiate into the glial lineage.
