Characterization of highly proliferative epidermal stem cells during pregnancy and parturition

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17796
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Ichijo Ryo 京都大学, ウイルス・再生医科学研究所, 助教 (50804382)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 皮膚 / 幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stem cell(SC) proliferation and differentiation organize tissue homeostasis. However, how SCs regulate coordinate tissue scaling in dynamic organs remain unknown. We found that interfollicular epidermal SCs (IFESCs) shape basal epidermal proliferating clusters (EPCs) in expanding abdominal epidermis of pregnant mice and proliferating plantar epidermis. Clonal lineage tracing revealed that Tbx3+-BC clones emerge in the abdominal epidermis during pregnancy, followed by differentiation after parturition. In the plantar epidermis, Tbx3+-BCs are sustained as long-lived SCs to maintain EPCs invariably. We showed that Tbx3+-BCs are vasculature-dependent IFESCs and identified mechanical stretch as an external cue for the vasculature-driven EPC formation. Our results uncover vasculature-mediated IFESC regulations, which explain how the epidermis adjusts its size in orchestration with dermal constituents in dynamic skin.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

皮膚は、体の生理変化や体形変化に応じて拡張・収縮するダイナミックな臓器である。このような生理的な皮膚リモデリングは、皮膚組織を構成する多様な細胞の不均一性、階層性、相互作用の時空間的な変化により誘導されると予想されるが、それを担う多細胞ネットワークや制御機構は不明である。本研究により、血管が真皮と表皮のリモデリングを誘導し、体表領域や生理変化に合わせた皮膚の形態や伸展を制御していることが明らかとなった。これらの成果は皮膚の再生医療に貢献できると考えられる。