Dendritic Cell Migrations Involving the Pilosebaceous Unit in the Development of Murine Skin

In this study, researchers observed the migration of dermal dendritic cells in the skin of mice during the first week of postnatal life, noting their role in the development of different types of epidermal physiology, such as ortho- and parakeratosis. The study found that while the back skin of mice remained orthokeratotic, the tail skin transitioned from orthokeratotic to parakeratotic in scale regions, staying orthokeratotic in hair-producing areas. The dendritic cells were identified as ATPase-, NSE-, naphthyl AS-D chloroacetate-, and dopa-positive. The findings highlighted the involvement of dendritic cells in regulating epidermal physiology and their potential role in hair growth and keratinization, emphasizing the importance of mesenchymal-epithelial interactions in skin development.