[Progress in epidermal stem cells].
Mammalian skin epidermis contains different epidermal stem cell pools which contribute to the homeostasis and repair of skin epithelium. Epidermal stem cells possess two essential features common to all stem cells: self-renewal and differentiation. Disturbing the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of epidermal stem cell often causes tumors or other skin diseases. Epidermal stem cell niches provide a special microenvironment that maintains a balance of stem cell quiescence and activity. This review primarily concentrates on the following points of the epidermal stem cells: the existing evidences, the self-renewal and differentiation, the division pattern, the signal pathways regulating self-renewal and differentiation, and the microenvironment (niche) and macroenvironment maintaining the homeostasis of stem cells.
Wang
Li-Juan
LJ
State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Genetic Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China. wanglijuan-2002@163.com
Wang
You-Liang
YL
Yang
Xiao
X
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*