Epidermal Stem Cells: An Update on Their Potential in Regenerative Medicine

March 2013 in “ Expert opinion on biological therapy ”

Xiaoyan Sun, Xiaobing Fu, Weidong Han, Min Zhao, Laura Chalmers

epidermal stem cells skin tissue regeneration keratinocytes transcriptional profile reprogramming cell therapies differentiation transdifferentiation tumorigenesis lineage conversion

TLDR Epidermal stem cells have potential for personalized regenerative medicine but need careful handling to avoid cancer.

The document discussed the crucial role of adult epidermal stem cells in skin tissue regeneration and highlighted recent findings on their properties, functions, and potential in regenerative medicine. It noted that keratinocytes might have a transcriptional profile favorable for reprogramming, suggesting new strategies for patient-specific cell therapies. The paper provided an overview of the cells' differentiation and transdifferentiation capacities and their potential for tumorigenesis. The expert opinion emphasized the need for developing effective methods for lineage conversion between cell types and tailoring treatments to individual patients while minimizing cancer risks.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Nerve-Derived Sonic Hedgehog Defines a Niche for Hair Follicle Stem Cells Capable of Becoming Epidermal Stem Cells

396 citations, May 2011 in “Cell stem cell”

Nerve signals are crucial for hair follicle stem cells to become skin stem cells and help in wound healing.

The Advantages of Hair Follicle Pluripotent Stem Cells Over Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

research The Advantages of Hair Follicle Pluripotent Stem Cells Over Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine

33 citations, October 2010 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

Hair follicle stem cells are a practical and ethical option for nerve repair in regenerative medicine.

research Identification of the Cell Lineage at the Origin of Basal Cell Carcinoma

351 citations, February 2010 in “Nature Cell Biology”

Basal cell carcinoma mostly starts from cells in the upper skin layers, not hair follicle stem cells.

research Lgr5 Marks Cycling, Yet Long-Lived, Hair Follicle Stem Cells

835 citations, October 2008 in “Nature Genetics”

Lgr5 is a marker for active, long-lasting stem cells in mouse hair follicles.

research Wnt-Dependent De Novo Hair Follicle Regeneration in Adult Mouse Skin After Wounding

829 citations, May 2007 in “Nature”

Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.

research Defining the Impact of Beta-Catenin/Tcf Transactivation on Epithelial Stem Cells

384 citations, June 2005 in “Genes & development”

β-catenin is essential for stem cell activation and proliferation in hair follicles.

research Pattern of Expression of c-Myc, Max, and Bin1 in Human Anagen Hair Follicles

11 citations, June 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

c-Myc, Max, and Bin1 help hair follicle cells mature and die.

research Contrasting Localization of c-Myc with Other Myc Superfamily Transcription Factors in the Human Hair Follicle and During the Hair Growth Cycle

45 citations, April 2001 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Different Myc family proteins are located in various parts of the hair follicle and may affect stem cell behavior.

research Morphogenesis and Renewal of Hair Follicles from Adult Multipotent Stem Cells

949 citations, January 2001 in “Cell”

Adult mouse skin contains stem cells that can create new hair, skin, and oil glands.

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