Neurobiology, Stem Cell Biology, and Immunology: An Emerging Triad for Understanding Tissue Homeostasis and Repair

October 2022 in “ Annual review of cell and developmental biology ”

Emily Scott-Solomon, Ya‐Chieh Hsu

TLDR The nervous system helps control stem cell behavior and immune responses, affecting tissue repair and maintenance.

The document discusses the role of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in tissue homeostasis and repair, particularly in the skin and hematopoietic system. It highlights the involvement of sensory neurons, sympathetic nervous system, and parasympathetic nervous system in modulating stem cell behaviors and immune responses. The document specifically discusses the interaction between sympathetic nerve endings and hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in maintaining homeostasis and growth. It also explains how stress can cause hair graying by depleting melanocyte stem cells (MeSCs) through overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. The document further explores the role of sensory nerves in wound repair, cancer development, and the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It also discusses how sensory nerves can sense pathogens and modulate immune responses. The findings suggest new opportunities for therapeutic interventions.

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Research cited in this study

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