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In Vivo Genetic Alteration and Lineage Tracing of Single Stem Cells by Live Imaging

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Skin Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1879))

Abstract

Studies characterizing stem cell lineages in different organs aim to understand which cells particular progenitors can give rise to and how this process is controlled. Because the skin contains several resident stem cell populations and undergoes constant turnover, it is an ideal tissue in which to study this phenomenon. Furthermore, with the advent of two-photon microscopy techniques in combination with genetic tools for cell labeling, this question can be studied non-invasively by using live imaging. In this chapter, we describe an experimental approach that takes this technique one step further. We combine the Cre and Tet inducible genetic systems for single clone labeling and genetic manipulation in a specific stem cell population in the skin by using known drivers. Our system involves the use of gain- and loss-of-function alleles activated only in a differentially labeled population to distinguish single clones. The same region within a tissue is imaged repeatedly to document the fate and interactions of single clones with and without genetic modifications in the long term. Implementing this lineage tracing approach while documenting changes in cell behavior brought about by the genetic alterations allows both aspects to be linked. Because of the inherent flexibility of the approach, we expect it to have broad applications in studying stem cell function not only in the skin, but also in other tissues amenable to live imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Olivia Farrelly, Paola Kuri & Panteleimon Rompolas

Authors
  1. Olivia Farrelly
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  2. Paola Kuri
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  3. Panteleimon Rompolas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Panteleimon Rompolas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Farrelly, O., Kuri, P., Rompolas, P. (2018). In Vivo Genetic Alteration and Lineage Tracing of Single Stem Cells by Live Imaging. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Skin Stem Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1879. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2018_172

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2018_172

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8869-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8870-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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