In vivo dedifferentiation of human epidermal cells

Cell Biol Int. 2007 Nov;31(11):1436-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2007.05.016. Epub 2007 Jun 23.

Abstract

Consistent with our previous study, we herein offer further evidence to demonstrate the dedifferentiation of differentiating epidermal cells into stem cells or stem cells -like in vivo. The epidermal sheets eliminated of basal cells were labeled with 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and then were transplanted onto the full-thickness skin wounds nude mice. Immunohistochemical examination of the survival sheets showed that some cells were positive for both DAPI and either cytokeratins (CK19, CK14) or beta1 integrin in spinous and granular layers at day 7 after transplantation. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the percentages of both alpha6briCDdim and alpha6briCD71bri populations in survival epidermal sheet grafts 7 d after transplantation compared with those before xenotransplantation (P<0.05), as determined by flow cytometry. The results collectively indicated that some of the differentiated cells in engrafted epidermal sheets dedifferentiated into stem cells or stem cells-like in vivo, which offer us new evidence and insights into the dedifferentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult Stem Cells / cytology
  • Adult Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Dedifferentiation*
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta1 / isolation & purification
  • Integrin beta1 / metabolism*
  • Keratins / isolation & purification
  • Keratins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Integrin beta1
  • Keratins