Epidermal stem cells in wound healing and their clinical applications
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(2019) 10:229
REVIEW
Open Access
Epidermal stem cells in wound healing and their clinical applications Ronghua Yang1†, Fengxia Liu2†, Jingru Wang1, Xiaodong Chen1, Julin Xie3* and Kun Xiong4*
Abstract The skin has important barrier, sensory, and immune functions, contributing to the health and integrity of the organism. Extensive skin injuries that threaten the entire organism require immediate and effective treatment. Wound healing is a natural response, but in severe conditions, such as burns and diabetes, this process is insufficient to achieve effective treatment. Epidermal stem cells (EPSCs) are a multipotent cell type and are committed to the formation and differentiation of the functional epidermis. As the contributions of EPSCs in wound healing and tissue regeneration have been increasingly attracting the attention of researchers, a rising number of therapies based on EPSCs are currently under development. In this paper, we review the characteristics of EPSCs and the mechanisms underlying their functions during wound healing. Applications of EPSCs are also discussed to determine the potential and feasibility of using EPSCs clinically in wound healing. Keywords: Epidermal stem cells, Wound healing, Signaling pathway, Epithelial regeneration
Introduction As the largest organ and first barrier in the body, the skin has multiple important functions, such as preventing pathogens and dehydration, regulating body temperature, and supplying sensation. The skin is also an active immune organ, hosting cellular elements of the innate and adaptive immune systems [1]. Skin wound healing is a highly organized process that leads to the restoration of tissue integrity and functions. Aberrations of wound healing consume substantial resources and often require longterm medical management [2]. Serious and widespread skin damage, such as burn injury, threatens the entire organism and impairs the capacity for skin regeneration. Moreover, with the increased prevalence of such diseases as diabetes, vascular disease, and obesity, chronic wounds are becoming a major global issue with limited treatment strategies, unsatisfactory therapeutic effects, and significant medical costs [3].
* Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] † Ronghua Yang and Fengxia Liu contributed equally to this work. 3 Department of Burn Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 512100, China 4 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Morphological Sciences Building, Central South University, 172 Tongzi Po Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
The skin exhibits tremendous regenerative potential because different types of stem cells (SCs) are located in the skin and its appendages; these SCs maintain skin homeostasis and regulate skin damage under physiological conditions. Among these SCs, epidermal stem cells (EPSCs) are of particular interest because they are numerous and accessible. In addition, EPSCs are
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