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Glutamate transporter Slc1a3 mediates inter‐niche stem cell activation during skin growth
Author(s) -
Reichenbach Bettina,
Classon Johanna,
Aida Tomomi,
Tanaka Kohichi,
Genander Maria,
Göritz Christian
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201798280
Subject(s) - biology , niche , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , transporter , glutamate receptor , stem cell niche , excitatory amino acid transporter , neuroscience , genetics , biochemistry , gene , progenitor cell , receptor
Tissues contain distinct stem cell niches, but whether cell turnover is coordinated between niches during growth is unknown. Here, we report that in mouse skin, hair growth is accompanied by sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis expansion. During hair growth, cells in the bulge and outer root sheath temporarily upregulate the glutamate transporter SLC 1A3, and the number of SLC 1A3 + basal cells in interfollicular epidermis and sebaceous gland increases. Fate mapping of SLC 1A3 + cells in mice revealed transient expression in proliferating stem/progenitor cells in all three niches. Deletion of slc1a3 delays hair follicle anagen entry, uncouples interfollicular epidermis and sebaceous gland expansion from the hair cycle, and leads to reduced fur density in aged mice, indicating a role of SLC 1A3 in stem/progenitor cell activation. Modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 activity mimics the effects of SLC 1A3 deletion or inhibition. These data reveal that stem/progenitor cell activation is synchronized over distinct niches during growth and identify SLC 1A3 as a general marker and effector of activated epithelial stem/progenitor cells throughout the skin.