Rare Gli1+ perivascular fibroblasts promote skin wound repair

The study investigated the origins and roles of Ng2+ perivascular cells in mouse skin development and wound healing. It found that Ng2 labeled most perivascular cells in both developing and adult mouse skin, more so than other markers. These cells were categorized into four populations based on Pdgfrα and Pdgfrβ expression. Lineage tracing revealed that Ng2+ cells in embryonic and neonatal skin contributed to various cell types but not interfollicular fibroblasts. Papillary fibroblasts (Lrig1+) gave rise to Ng2+ cells in the upper dermis, while reticular fibroblasts (Dlk1+) were the source in the lower dermis. In adult skin wounds, Ng2+ cells only contributed to blood vessel-associated cells, maintaining perivascular heterogeneity during repair. The study concluded that Ng2+ perivascular cells are a heterogeneous, lineage-restricted population primarily recruited from papillary or reticular fibroblasts during tissue regeneration.