Stem cells tightly regulate dead cell clearance to maintain tissue fitness.

ABSTRACT: Billions of cells are eliminated daily from our bodies^1-4. Although macrophages and dendritic cells are dedicated to migrating and engulfing dying cells and debris, many epithelial and mesenchymal tissue cells can digest nearby apoptotic corpses^1-4. How these non-motile, non-professional phagocytes sense and eliminate dying cells while maintaining their normal tissue functions is unclear. Here we explore the mechanisms that underlie their multifunctionality by exploiting the cyclical bouts of tissue regeneration and degeneration during hair cycling. We show that hair follicle stem cells transiently unleash phagocytosis at the correct time and place through local molecular triggers that depend on both lipids released by neighbouring apoptotic corpses and retinoids rele

SUBMITTER: Stewart KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11390485 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature