Epidermal and Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells Express Melanoma-Associated Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Core Protein

The study investigated the expression of melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (MCSP) in human skin and hair follicles, identifying its presence in basal cells of the epidermis and the outer root sheath (ORS) of hair follicles. MCSP was found to colocalize with β1 integrin bright progenitor keratinocytes, suggesting its potential as a marker for epidermal stem cell populations. The study highlighted the complex nature of epithelial compartmentalization in the hair follicle, with MCSP expression being more intricate in the ORS compared to the interfollicular epidermis. The findings proposed that MCSP might play a role in regulating undifferentiated cell populations in the skin, although it was absent in more differentiated cells, and suggested potential implications for understanding hair growth and regeneration.