Type XVII Collagen Suppresses Interfollicular Epidermal Proliferation in Neonatal and Aged Skin, and Helps Rejuvenate Epidermis

The study demonstrated that Type XVII collagen (COL17) played a crucial role in maintaining epidermal homeostasis by regulating epidermal proliferation through Wnt signaling. In both neonatal and aged skin, a deficiency in COL17 led to epidermal hyperproliferation due to disrupted Wnt signaling. The research highlighted that changes in COL17 distribution in epidermal basal cells with aging contributed to this hyperproliferation. Notably, overexpression of human COL17 in aged mice restored proper COL17 distribution and corrected the hyperproliferation. These findings suggested that COL17 was essential for controlling cell proliferation and preventing conditions resembling aged skin and potentially oncogenesis.