CD4 expression controls epidermal stem cell balance.

ABSTRACT: The balance of stem cell populations is essential for the maintenance, renewal, and repair of the mammalian epidermis. Here, we report that CD4, which is a typical marker of helper T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, is also expressed on murine K5⁺ keratinocytes. Lineage tracing of CD4⁺ cells reveals that their epidermal progeny has self-renewal abilities and clonogenic potential. The progeny of CD4⁺ epidermal cells contributes to epidermal renewal and progressively colonizes the interfollicular epidermis and hair follicles with age, thereby developing to all epidermal lineages. Wound healing studies furthermore show that the progeny of CD4⁺ epidermal cells accumulates at wound sites. Finally, using CD4 knockout mice we demonstr

SUBMITTER: Brandes N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11794708 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature