Yang R, Yang S, Zhao J, Hu X, Chen X, Wang J, Xie J, Xiong K, et al.
Stem cell research & therapy. Date of publication 2020 Jul 22;volume 11(1):303.
1. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2020 Jul 22;11(1):303. doi: 10.1186/s13287-020-01796-3.
Progress in studies of epidermal stem cells and their application in skin tissue
engineering.
Yang R(1), Yang S(2), Zhao J(3), Hu X(4), Chen X(1), Wang J(1), Xie J(5), Xiong
K(6)(7).
Author information:
(1)Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan,
528000, Guangdong, China.
(2)Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen
University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
(3)Department of Burn Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen
University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
(4)Clinical Medicine Eight-year Program, 02 Class, 17 Grade, Xiangya School of
Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
(5)Department of Burn Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen
University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China. sysxiejl90@sohu.com.
(6)Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science,
Central South University, Morphological Sciences Building, 172 Tongzi Po Road,
Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China. xiongkun2001@163.com.
(7)Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
xiongkun2001@163.com.
The epidermis, which is the outermost layer of mammalian skin, provides an
essential barrier that is essential for maintenance of life. The epidermis is a
stratified epithelium, which is maintained by the proliferation of epidermal stem
cells (EPSCs) at the basal layer of the epidermis. As a unique cell population
characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, EPSCs ensure the
maintenance of adult skin homeostasis and participate in repair of the epidermis
after injury. Recently, the utilization of EPSCs for wound healing and tissue
regeneration has been attracting increased attention from researchers. In
addition, the advances in tissue engineering have increased the interest in
applying EPSCs in tissue-engineered scaffolds to further reconstitute injured
tissues. In this review, we introduce research developments related to EPSCs,
including methods recently used in the culture and enrichment of EPSCs, as well
as advanced tools to study EPSCs. The function and mechanism of the EPSC-dermal
units in the development and homeostasis of the skin are also summarized.
Finally, the potential applications of EPSCs in skin tissue engineering are
discussed.
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01796-3
PMCID: PMC7374856
PMID: 32698863
