Lgr6 marks stem cells in the hair follicle that generate all cell lineages of the skin.
Mammalian epidermis consists of three self-renewing compartments: the hair follicle, the sebaceous gland, and the interfollicular epidermis. We generated knock-in alleles of murine Lgr6, a close relative of the Lgr5 stem cell gene. Lgr6 was expressed in the earliest embryonic hair placodes. In adult hair follicles, Lgr6+ cells resided in a previously uncharacterized region directly above the follicle bulge. They expressed none of the known bulge stem cell markers. Prenatal Lgr6+ cells established the hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and interfollicular epidermis. Postnatally, Lgr6+ cells generated sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis, whereas contribution to hair lineages gradually diminished with age. Adult Lgr6+ cells executed long-term wound repair, including the formation of new hair follicles. We conclude that Lgr6 marks the most primitive epidermal stem cell.
Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands.
Hugo J
HJ
Snippert
Andrea
A
Haegebarth
Maria
M
Kasper
Viljar
V
Jaks
Johan H
JH
van Es
Nick
N
Barker
Marc
M
van de Wetering
Maaike
M
van den Born
Harry
H
Begthel
Robert G
RG
Vries
Daniel E
DE
Stange
Rune
R
Toftgård
Hans
H
Clevers
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D006197:Hair / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
C493597:Lgr5 protein, mouse; C548022:Lgr6 protein, mouse; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled