SKPs derive from hair follicle precursors and exhibit properties of adult dermal stem cells.
Despite the remarkable regenerative capacity of mammalian skin, an adult dermal stem cell has not yet been identified. Here, we investigated whether skin-derived precursors (SKPs) might fulfill such a role. We show that SKPs derive from Sox2(+) hair follicle dermal cells and that these two cell populations are similar with regard to their transcriptome and functional properties. Both clonal SKPs and endogenous Sox2(+) cells induce hair morphogenesis, differentiate into dermal cell types, and home to a hair follicle niche upon transplantation. Moreover, hair follicle-derived SKPs self-renew, maintain their multipotency, and serially reconstitute hair follicles. Finally, grafting experiments show that follicle-associated dermal cells move out of their niche to contribute cells for dermal maintenance and wound-healing. Thus, SKPs derive from Sox2(+) follicle-associated dermal precursors and display functional properties predicted of a dermal stem cell, contributing to dermal maintenance, wound-healing, and hair follicle morphogenesis.
Biernaskie
Jeffrey
J
Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. jeff.biernaskie@ucalgary.ca
Paris
Maryline
M
Morozova
Olena
O
Fagan
B Matthew
BM
Marra
Marco
M
Pevny
Larysa
L
Miller
Freda D
FD
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000166:cytology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing
D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse