Dissecting Wnt Signaling for Melanocyte Regulation during Wound Healing.

ABSTRACT: Abnormal pigmentation is commonly seen in the wound scar. Despite advancements in the research of wound healing, little is known about the repopulation of melanocytes in the healed skin. Previous studies have shown the capacity of melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle to contribute skin epidermal melanocytes after injury in mice and humans. Here, we focused on the Wnt pathway, known to be a vital regulator of melanocyte stem cells in efforts to better understand the regulation of follicle-derived epidermal melanocytes during wound healing. We showed that transgenic expression of Wnt inhibitor Dkk1 in melanocytes reduced epidermal melanocytes in the wound scar. Conversely, forced activation of Wnt signaling by genetically stabilizing β-catenin in melanocytes increases epidermal melanoc

SUBMITTER: Sun Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6019608 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature