Abstract
The differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) towards epithelial lineages has yet to be demonstrated using a standardized method. This study investigated whether keratinocyte progenitor cells are present in the ASC population. ASCs isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue were cultured and examined for the expression of the keratinocyte progenitor markers p63 and desmoglein 3 (DSG3) by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. In addition, p63 and DSG3 expression levels were assessed before and after differentiation of ASCs into adipocytes by real-time PCR and western blot analysis, as well as in subcutaneous adipose tissue by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Both markers were expressed in ASCs, but were downregulated after the differentiation of ASCs into adipocytes; p63-positive cells were also detected in subcutaneous adipose tissue. ASCs co-cultured with human fibroblasts and incubated with all-trans retinoic acid and bone morphologic protein 4 showed an upregulation in DSG3 level, which was also increased in the presence of type IV collagen. They also showed an upregulation in cytokeratin-5 level only in the presence of type IV collagen. These results provide the demonstration that keratinocyte progenitor cells reside in subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Highlights
The skin is a multilayered organ that protects the organism against external environmental stressors
adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) adhered to the dish and became spindle- or stellate-shaped cells (Fig. 1A) that were positive for CD34, CD44, CD90, and CD105, as determined by flow cytometry (Fig. 1B)
The absorbance at 540 nm of Oil Red O-stained cells increased markedly over this time course, while adiponectin, leptin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 transcript levels were upregulated. These results demonstrate the differentiation of ASCs into adipocytes
Summary
The skin is a multilayered organ that protects the organism against external environmental stressors. Stem cell populations within the skin including the interfollicular epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands maintain skin homeostasis and repair damaged areas. Stem cells in the basal layer of the epidermis give rise to short-lived progenitors, which amplify the keratinocyte population and migrate upwards as they differentiate [1]. Hair follicle stem cells can behave as multipotent stem cells during physical injury and participate in re-epithelialization [2,3,4]. Bulge stem cells contribute to the repair of the interfollicular epidermis when it has sustained damage [3, 5,6,7]. Stem cells include embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells.
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