TLDR Hair follicles protect melanocytes from sun damage, helping them replenish skin.
This study analyzed 297 melanocytes from 31 donors to understand melanocyte homeostasis, revealing that melanocytes with low mutation burdens, which are more stem-like and smaller, are maintained in sun-damaged skin. These LowMut melanocytes, found in both hair follicles and interfollicular epidermis, contrast with HighMut melanocytes, which reside mainly in the interfollicular epidermis. The research suggests that hair follicles offer a protective niche from UV radiation, allowing melanocytes to migrate and replenish the epidermis after photodamage. The study highlights the value of including mutational data in cell atlases to track cellular history and homeostatic processes.
8 citations
,
June 2022 in “Scientific Reports” LGR5 is a common marker of hair follicle stem cells in different animals and is important for hair growth and regeneration.
41 citations
,
April 2019 in “PLOS genetics” CD34+ and CD34- melanocyte stem cells have different regenerative abilities.
43 citations
,
February 2008 in “Journal of cutaneous pathology” Melanocyte precursors in human fetal skin follow a specific migration pattern and some remain in the skin's deeper layers.
January 2019 in “Advances in stem cells and their niches” Skin health and repair depend on the signals between skin stem cells and their surrounding cells.
31 citations
,
February 2019 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” Caffeine applied to the scalp can protect hair follicles from UV damage.
9 citations
,
September 2018 in “Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B-biology” A hair-growth formula with cystine and thiamin helps protect skin cells against UV damage and improves their growth.
120 citations
,
February 2009 in “Apoptosis” Understanding how cells die in the skin is important for treating skin diseases and preventing hair loss.
13 citations
,
January 2018 in “Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry” Fat-derived stem cells can help protect and repair skin stem cells from aging caused by UV light.
