Hair Follicle Stem Cell SLC3A2 Regulates Epithelial Regenerative Properties

September 2025 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Soline Estrach, Etienne Boulter, Laurence Cailleteau, Charles-Maxime Vivier, Lionel Tosello, Ludovic Cervera, Floriane S. Tissot, Chloé C. Féral

SLC3A2 hair follicle stem cells HFSCs skin homeostasis follicular keratinocytes interfollicular epidermis YAP/Taz-dependent pathway sphingolipid metabolism

TLDR SLC3A2 is crucial for hair follicle stem cell function and hair growth.

The study investigates the role of SLC3A2 in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and its impact on skin homeostasis and cell-fate decisions. Deleting SLC3A2 in HFSCs resulted in a significant loss of these cells and impaired hair follicle growth, as the stem cells failed to differentiate into follicular keratinocytes and instead became interfollicular epidermis cells. This highlights SLC3A2's essential role in maintaining HFSC population and proper location. The study also found that SLC3A2 influences stem cell fate and skin regenerative properties through a YAP/Taz-dependent pathway and is crucial for sphingolipid metabolism, which is important for HFSC compartment establishment.

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