RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hair Follicle Epidermal Stem Cells Define a Niche for Tactile Sensation
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 353490
DO 10.1101/353490
A1 Chun-Chun Cheng
A1 Ko Tsutsui
A1 Toru Taguchi
A1 Noriko Sanzen
A1 Asako Nakagawa
A1 Kisa Kakiguchi
A1 Shigenobu Yonemura
A1 Chiharu Tanegashima
A1 Sean D. Keeley
A1 Hiroshi Kiyonari
A1 Yasuhide Furuta
A1 Yasuko Tomono
A1 Fiona M. Watt
A1 Hironobu Fujiwara
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/06/22/353490.abstract
AB The heterogeneity and compartmentalization of stem cells is a common principle in many epithelia, and is known to function in epithelial maintenance, but its other physiological roles remain elusive. Here we show transcriptional and anatomical contributions of compartmentalized epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) in tactile sensory unit formation in the hair follicle (HF). EpSCs in the follicle upper-bulge, where mechanosensory lanceolate complexes (LCs) innervate, express a unique set of extracellular matrix (ECM) and neurogenesis-related genes. These EpSCs deposit an ECM protein EGFL6 into the collar matrix, a novel ECM that tightly ensheathes LCs. EGFL6 is required for the proper patterning, touch responses, and αv integrin-enrichment of LCs. By maintaining a quiescent original EpSC niche, the old bulge, EpSCs provide anatomically stable HF-LC interfaces, irrespective of the stage of follicle regeneration cycle. Thus, compartmentalized EpSCs provide a niche linking the HF and the nervous system throughout the hair cycle.