Macrophages contribute to the cyclic activation of adult hair follicle stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Skin epithelial stem cells operate within a complex signaling milieu that orchestrates their lifetime regenerative properties. The question of whether and how immune cells impact on these stem cells within their niche is not well understood. Here we show that skin-resident macrophages decrease in number because of apoptosis before the onset of epithelial hair follicle stem cell activation during the murine hair cycle. This process is linked to distinct gene expression, including Wnt transcription. Interestingly, by mimicking this event through the selective induction of macrophage apoptosis in early telogen, we identify a novel involvement of macrophages in stem cell activation in vivo. Importantly, the macrophage-specific pharmacological inhibition of Wnt production delays hair follicle g

SUBMITTER: Castellana D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275176 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature