Isolation of Epithelial Stem Cells from Dermis by a Three-Dimensional Culture System
May 2006
in “
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
”
TLDR Researchers isolated a new type of stem cell from mouse skin that can renew itself and turn into multiple cell types.
In 2006, researchers successfully isolated a new line of epithelial stem cells from mouse embryonic skin, known as dermis-derived epithelial progenitor (DEEP) cells, using a novel three-dimensional culture system. These DEEP cells, particularly the DEEP-1 cell line, showed significant self-renewal capability, with over 200 population doublings in 250 days, and expressed various stem cell markers. The cells demonstrated multipotency, as they could differentiate into neural, hepatic, and renal cell types in vivo when transplanted into SCID mice. The study concluded that DEEP-1 cells are of epithelial stem cell origin and possess properties of stem/progenitor cells, making them a promising model for studying epithelial stem cells and their potential in regenerative medicine.
