Lack of a fusion requirement for development of bone marrow-derived epithelia.

Harris, Robert G; Herzog, Erica L; Bruscia, Emanuela M; Grove, Joanna E; Van Arnam, John S; Krause, Diane S · Science · 2004

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Analysis of developmental plasticity of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) is complicated by the possibility of cell-cell fusion. Here we demonstrate that epithelial cells can develop from BMDCs without cell-cell fusion. We use the Cre/lox system together with beta-galactosidase and enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in transgenic mice to identify epithelial cells in the lung, liver, and skin that develop from BMDCs without cell fusion.

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