Transcriptomic and Functional Evidence Show Similarities between Human Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cells and Keratinocytes.

ABSTRACT: Amniotic epithelial stem cells (AESCs) are considered as potential alternatives to keratinocytes (KCs) in tissue-engineered skin substitutes used for treating skin damage. However, their clinical application is limited since similarities and distinctions between AESCs and KCs remain unclear. Herein, a transcriptomics analysis and functional evaluation were used to understand the commonalities and differences between AESCs and KCs. RNA-sequencing revealed that AESCs are involved in multiple epidermis-associated biological processes shared by KCs and show more similarity to early stage immature KCs than to adult KCs. However, AESCs were observed to be heterogeneous, and some possessed hybrid mesenchymal and epithelial features distinct from KCs. A functional evaluation revealed that AESCs ca

SUBMITTER: Liu LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8750621 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature