Epidermal stem cell renewal (EpiSC)

Epidermal stem cell renewal is the process by which undifferentiated stem cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis or in the hair follicle bulge undergo self-renewal divisions and produce progenitor cells that differentiate into mature keratinocytes, thereby ensuring the maintenance and repair of the skin barrier[1][2][3][4]. These stem cells are characterized by slow-cycling, high proliferative potential, and expression of specific markers such as β1 integrin, α6 integrin (CD49f), and keratins CK15/CK19. The renewal dynamics are tightly regulated: differentiation of a stem cell leads to compensatory division of neighboring cells, balancing homeostasis[1]. Aberrations in these processes are implicated in wound healing deficiencies and skin cancers[2][4]. This entry is marked "is_incorrect: true" because "Epidermal stem cell renewal" refers to a process or phenomenon, not a specific protein, receptor, or druggable target. For structured molecular targeting, focus should be on specific markers, signaling receptors (like Lgr6), or structural proteins (such as integrins) expressed by epidermal stem cells[2][3].

Other names

Epidermal progenitor cellBasal keratinocyte stem cell