Isolation and Functional Assessment of Cutaneous Stem Cells
Authors
Yanne S. Doucet and David M. Owens
Institution
OHSU
Country
United States
Year
2014
Journal
Stem Cell Protocols, Chapter 13
Abstract
The epidermis and associated appendages of the skin represent a multi-lineage tissue that is maintained by
perpetual rounds of renewal. During homeostasis, turnover of epidermal lineages is achieved by input from
regionalized keratinocytes stem or progenitor populations with little overlap from neighboring niches.
Over the last decade, molecular markers selectively expressed by a number of these stem or progenitor
pools have been identifi ed, allowing for the isolation and functional assessment of stem cells and genetic
lineage tracing analysis within intact skin. These advancements have led to many fundamental observations
about epidermal stem cell function such as the identifi cation of their progeny, their role in maintenance of
skin homeostasis, or their contribution to wound healing. In this chapter, we provide a methodology to
identify and isolate epidermal stem cells and to assess their functional role in their respective niche.
Furthermore, recent evidence has shown that the microenvironment also plays a crucial role in stem cell
function. Indeed, epidermal cells are under the infl uence of surrounding fi broblasts, adipocytes, and sensory
neurons that provide extrinsic signals and mechanical cues to the niche and contribute to skin morphogenesis
and homeostasis. A better understanding of these microenvironmental cues will help engineer in vitro
experimental models with more relevance to in vivo skin biology. New approaches to address and study
these environmental cues in vitro will also be addressed.