[Embryonic stem cells and epidermal commitment].
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can be cultured indefinitely, differentiated into many cell types in vitro, thus providing a potentially unlimited supply of cells for cell-based therapy. We recently reported the efficient derivation of ectodermal and epidermal cells from murine ES cells. These differentiated ES cells are able to form, in culture, a multilayered epidermis coupled with an underlying dermal compartment, similar to native skin. This model demons- trates that ES cells have the potential to recapitulate the reciprocal instructive ectodermal-mesodermal commitments, characteristic of embryonic skin formation, clarifies the role of the morphogen BMP-4 in the binary neuroectodermal choice and provides a powerful tool for the study of molecular mechanisms controlling skin development and multipotent epidermal stem cell properties. Its potential for cutaneous cell therapy and dermatocosmetological applications is discussed.
Aberdam
Daniel
D
INSERM U634, Faculté de médecine, Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice.
Gambaro
Karen
K
Barthel
Robert
R
Rouleau
Matthieu
M
Aberdam
Edith
E
D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
C525809:BMP4 protein, human; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins