Blimp1 defines a progenitor population that governs cellular input to the sebaceous gland.

ABSTRACT: Epidermal lineage commitment occurs when multipotent stem cells are specified to three lineages: the epidermis, the hair follicle, and the sebaceous gland (SG). How and when a lineage becomes specified remains unknown. Here, we report the existence of a population of unipotent progenitor cells that reside in the SG and express the transcriptional repressor Blimp1. Using cell-culture studies and genetic lineage tracing, we demonstrate that Blimp1-expressing cells are upstream from other cells of the SG lineage. Blimp1 appears to govern cellular input into the gland since its loss leads to elevated c-myc expression, augmented cell proliferation, and SG hyperplasia. Finally, BrdU labeling experiments demonstrate that the SG defects associated with loss of Blimp1 lead to enhanced bulge stem ce

SUBMITTER: Horsley V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2424190 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature