Jarid2 regulates mouse epidermal stem cell activation and differentiation

EMBO J. 2011 Aug 2;30(17):3635-46. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2011.265.

Abstract

Jarid2 is required for the genomic recruitment of the polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC2) in embryonic stem cells. However, its specific role during late development and adult tissues remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we show that deletion of Jarid2 in mouse epidermis reduces the proliferation and potentiates the differentiation of postnatal epidermal progenitors, without affecting epidermal development. In neonatal epidermis, Jarid2 deficiency reduces H3K27 trimethylation, a chromatin repressive mark, in epidermal differentiation genes previously shown to be targets of the PRC2. However, in adult epidermis Jarid2 depletion does not affect interfollicular epidermal differentiation but results in delayed hair follicle (HF) cycling as a consequence of decreased proliferation of HF stem cells and their progeny. We conclude that Jarid2 is required for the scheduled proliferation of epidermal stem and progenitor cells necessary to maintain epidermal homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epidermal Cells*
  • Epidermis / metabolism
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / cytology*
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Histones
  • Jarid2 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2