39 citations,
March 2022 in “Nature Protocols” Researchers have developed a protocol to generate hair-bearing skin tissue from human pluripotent stem cells in a 3D in vitro culture system. Over 2 weeks, these stem cells differentiate into surface ectoderm and cranial neural crest cells, forming the epidermis and dermis. After 60 days, hair follicles appear, and by 130 days, the organoids exhibit full complexity, including stratified skin layers, pigmented hair follicles, sebaceous glands, Merkel cells, and sensory neurons, mimicking fetal skin at 18 weeks of gestation. These organoids can be cultured for up to 150 days, offering a model for studying skin biology, disease, and potential skin tissue regeneration.
81 citations,
June 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine” Skin has specialized touch receptors that can tell different sensations apart.
April 2016 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Sonic hedgehog signaling is needed for the development of touch-receptor cells in the skin, and the loss of Polycomb repressive complex 2 can lead to more of these cells.
27 citations,
August 2014 in “Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Developmental biology” The skin and thymus develop similarly to protect and support immunity.
July 2023 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Skin's uneven surface and hair follicles affect its stress and strain but don't change its overall strength, and help prevent the skin from peeling apart.