Epidermal stem cells and their epigenetic regulation

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Aug 30;14(9):17861-80. doi: 10.3390/ijms140917861.

Abstract

Stem cells play an essential role in embryonic development, cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Tissue homeostasis in adults is maintained by adult stem cells resident in the niches of different tissues. As one kind of adult stem cell, epidermal stem cells have the potential to generate diversified types of progeny cells in the skin. Although its biology is still largely unclarified, epidermal stem cells are widely used in stem cell research and regenerative medicine given its easy accessibility and pluripotency. Despite the same genome, cells within an organism have different fates due to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In this review, we will briefly discuss the current understanding of epigenetic modulation in epidermal stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Epigenomics
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Untranslated