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Multi‐tasking epidermal stem cells: Beyond epidermal maintenance
Author(s) -
Fujiwara Hironobu,
Tsutsui Ko,
Morita Ritsuko
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/dgd.12577
Subject(s) - compartmentalization (fire protection) , stem cell , epidermis (zoology) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , compartment (ship) , anatomy , biochemistry , enzyme , oceanography , geology
Over the past decade, multiple stem cell compartments have been identified within the epidermis. These stem cell pools have different transcriptional properties, proliferative modes and anatomical locations, and they maintain distinct epidermal compartments. The importance of this stem cell heterogeneity and compartmentalization has been understood as a key feature in epidermal homeostasis. However, recent studies have revealed that these heterogeneous stem cells themselves act as a niche for neighboring cells, thereby establishing spatially and temporally patterned epidermal–dermal functional units. These studies provide a new perspective for interpreting the biological significance of stem cell heterogeneity and compartmentalization beyond their role in epidermal maintenance.