Emerging Interactions Between Skin Stem Cells and Their Niches

August 2014 in “ Nature Medicine ”

Ya-Chieh Hsu, Lishi Li, Elaine Fuchs

alopecia hair follicles skin stem cells Notch signaling epidermis hair follicle stem cells immune responses peripheral nerves blood vessels regenerative medicine

TLDR Skin stem cells interacting with their environment is crucial for maintaining and regenerating skin and hair, and understanding this can help develop new treatments for skin and hair disorders.

The 2014 document "Emerging interactions between skin stem cells and their niches" discussed the crucial role of interactions between skin stem cells and their environments, or niches, in maintaining and regenerating skin tissue, including hair follicles. It was found that disruptions in these interactions can lead to diseases like alopecia. The study also highlighted the potential of these interactions in developing new treatments for skin and hair disorders. The document explored the complexity of the skin, which contains several distinct populations of stem cells and a rich array of cell types. It also discussed how these interactions change during aging, wounding, and skin cancer initiation. The study further delved into the role of Notch signaling in the transition from basal to spinous layer in the epidermis, and the regulation of hair follicle stem cells. The document also touched on the impact of immune responses, peripheral nerves, blood vessels, and aging on hair follicles and the epidermis. The document concluded by emphasizing the importance of understanding the complexity of niche components within the skin for future advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

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Research cited in this study

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