Project description:The epidermis consists of different compartments such as the hair follicle (HF), sebaceous gland (SG) and interfollicular epidermis (IFE), each containing distinct stem cell (SC) populations. However, with the exception of the SCs residing within the HF bulge, other epidermal SC populations remain poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here we used an epigenomic strategy that combines H3K27me3 ChIP-seq and RNA-seq profiling to identify major regulators of HFSC located outside the bulge. When applied to the bulk of HFSC isolated from mouse skin our approach identified both previously known and potentially novel non-bulge HFSC regulators. Among the latter, we found that PRDM16 was preferentially expressed within the Junctional Zone (JZ). To investigate PRDM16 function within the JZ SCs, we generated an epidermal-specific Prdm16 Knock-out mouse model (K14-Cre-Prdm16fl/fl). Notably, although these K14-Cre-Prdm16fl/fl mice did not show any major skin or hair abnormalities, the homeostasis of the SG was clearly compromised. Namely, PRDM16 deficient mice displayed enlarged SGs and excessive sebum production, thus resembling some of the features associated with certain human conditions (i.e. acne, sebaceous hyperplasia). Overall, our study provides a list of putative novel regulators of HFSC outside the bulge and identifies PRDM16 as a major regulator of SG homeostasis.
Project description:The epidermis consists of different compartments such as the hair follicle (HF), sebaceous gland (SG) and interfollicular epidermis (IFE), each containing distinct stem cell (SC) populations. However, with the exception of the SCs residing within the HF bulge, other epidermal SC populations remain poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here we used an epigenomic strategy that combines H3K27me3 ChIP-seq and RNA-seq profiling to identify major regulators of HFSC located outside the bulge. When applied to the bulk of HFSC isolated from mouse skin our approach identified both previously known and potentially novel non-bulge HFSC regulators. Among the latter, we found that PRDM16 was preferentially expressed within the Junctional Zone (JZ). To investigate PRDM16 function within the JZ SCs, we generated an epidermal-specific Prdm16 Knock-out mouse model (K14-Cre-Prdm16fl/fl). Notably, although these K14-Cre-Prdm16fl/fl mice did not show any major skin or hair abnormalities, the homeostasis of the SG was clearly compromised. Namely, PRDM16 deficient mice displayed enlarged SGs and excessive sebum production, thus resembling some of the features associated with certain human conditions (i.e. acne, sebaceous hyperplasia). Overall, our study provides a list of putative novel regulators of HFSC outside the bulge and identifies PRDM16 as a major regulator of SG homeostasis.
Project description:There are multiple stem cells in adult mammalian epidermis, but the mechanisms controlling lineage specification are poorly understood. To identify gene expression signatures of the three major epidermal differentiation compartments we micro-dissected individual SG, IFE and HF from adult epidermis. The RNA was isolated from age and sex matched wild-type mice and performed transcriptome analysis with Affymetrix Exon microarrays We micro-dissected individual interfollicular epidermis (IFE), hair follicle (HF) and sebaceous gland (SG) from adult tail epidermis. The RNA was isolated from age and sex matched wild-type mice. Three biological replicates for each epidermal differentiation compartment were analyzed.
Project description:Mammalian epidermis consists of three self-renewing compartments: the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis. We generated knock-in alleles of murine Lgr6, a close relative to the Lgr5 stem cell gene. Lgr6 was expressed in the earliest embryonic hair placodes. In adult hair follicles, Lgr6+ cells resided in a previously uncharacterized region directly above the follicle bulge. They expressed none of the known bulge stem cell markers. Prenatal Lgr6+ cells established the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis. Postnatally, Lgr6+ cells generated sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis, while contribution to hair lineages gradually diminished with age. Adult Lgr6+ cells executed long-term wound repair, including the formation of new hair follicles. We conclude that Lgr6 marks the most primitive epidermal stem cell. For the Lgr5 and Lgr6 stem cell comparison RNA was isolated from sorted GFPhi cell fractions of dorsal skin from Lgr5-EGFP-ires-CreERT2 mice and Lgr6-EGFP-ires-CreERT2, respectively (3 mice per group per sort).
Project description:Mammalian epidermis consists of three self-renewing compartments: the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis. We generated knock-in alleles of murine Lgr6, a close relative to the Lgr5 stem cell gene. Lgr6 was expressed in the earliest embryonic hair placodes. In adult hair follicles, Lgr6+ cells resided in a previously uncharacterized region directly above the follicle bulge. They expressed none of the known bulge stem cell markers. Prenatal Lgr6+ cells established the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis. Postnatally, Lgr6+ cells generated sebaceous gland and interfollicular epidermis, while contribution to hair lineages gradually diminished with age. Adult Lgr6+ cells executed long-term wound repair, including the formation of new hair follicles. We conclude that Lgr6 marks the most primitive epidermal stem cell.
Project description:RNA sequencing was performed on sorted populations of Lgr6-positive and Lgr6-negative keratinocytes from the interfollicular epidermis and the hair follicle/sebaceous gland, in order to determine the compartment-specific expression signatures of Lgr6+ progenitor cells.