Autophagy-Mediated Cellular Remodeling During Terminal Differentiation of Keratinocytes in the Epidermis and Skin Appendages

The document explores the critical role of autophagy in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes, essential for forming the epidermis and skin appendages like hair and nails. Autophagy, a lysosome-dependent degradation process, facilitates the breakdown of organelles and proteins, crucial for remodeling keratinocytes into metabolically inactive structures. Studies using Atg7-deficient mice show that inhibiting autophagy leads to the accumulation of organelles and proteins, resulting in abnormalities such as thickened skin layers and impaired hair growth. The research highlights the interplay between autophagy and other degradation mechanisms, emphasizing its importance in maintaining normal skin structure and function, particularly under stress or aging conditions.