SOX2 in the Skin: Roles in Biology and Pathology

The document from 2016 explores the multifaceted role of SOX2, a transcription factor, in skin biology and pathology. It is expressed in various skin cell types, including basal epidermal keratinocytes, Merkel cells, and cells within the hair follicle such as the dermal papilla (DP) and dermal sheath. SOX2 is involved in stem cell maintenance, differentiation, and hair follicle development. It has a dose-dependent role in specifying hair follicle types in mice and affects the differentiation of hair shaft progenitors. SOX2 expression is also linked to skin diseases, with a significant presence in skin cancers like melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), where it supports tumor characteristics such as growth and invasiveness. Additionally, SOX2 is important for wound healing and is present in fibrotic skin lesions. The document underscores SOX2's importance in skin health and disease, suggesting it as a potential target for therapeutic interventions.