Epidermal Stem Cell Diversity and Quiescence

The 2009 paper "Epidermal stem cell diversity and quiescence" by Fiona M. Watt and Kim B. Jensen revealed significant diversity among epidermal stem cells, which are located in different regions and vary in activity levels. These cells maintain the epidermis through self-renewal and differentiation, with the ability to exhibit multi-lineage differentiation in response to injury or genetic changes. Key findings included the roles of Wnt and EGF receptor signaling in differentiation, and the identification of NFATc1 and Lrig1 in maintaining stem cell quiescence in hair follicles and the junctional zone, respectively. The study highlighted the complex interplay between various signaling pathways and set the stage for further exploration of the relationships between different stem cell populations and their roles in epidermal homeostasis and repair.