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POSTECH Life Science

KOR

Faculty

Professor
Se Kyu Choi

LIFE SCIENCES

Se Kyu Choi Assistant Professor

Molecular Medicine

ㆍLab
Lab. of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
ㆍDetail research field
Stem Cell Biology
ㆍPhone
+82-54-279-2359
ㆍE-mail
sekyuchoi@postech.ac.kr
ㆍHomepage
https://choilab.postech.ac.kr

Research introduction

Mammalian skin serves as a physical barrier protecting organisms from damage, injury, and dehydration (Lim C, Lim J and Choi, Mol Cells, 2023). In addition, the skin controls body temperature and receives complex sensory signals. These diverse functions are made possible by different types of cell types. The epidermis, the hair follicle, the melanocyte lineage, and the sebaceous gland contain adult stem cells and are among the most highly regenerative tissues (Lee and Choi, Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 2024). These stem cells regenerate in an environment filled with adipocytes, muscle, fibroblasts, immune cells, blood vessels, and neurons. The cell-cell interactions which occur in this organ are complex. We are also examining the process of regeneration for other tissues (by the regeneration team (Lee J, Lee K, and Kim B) in SCBRM lab). Therefore, it is possible to investigate how cells from different lineages coordinate their behavior to maintain functional organs by exploring the mammalian skin and other tissues.

Stem cells need to respond not just to the niche but to systemic changes such as immune change, stress, metabolic alteration, or aging) (Jang H, Jo Y et al., BMB Reports, 2023; Choi et al., Nature, 2021). In addition, we have established approaches to determine if and how changes in stem cell fates influence cell-cell interactions and stem cell behaviors (Jo Y, Choi H, Kwak M, and Kim B).

Research Area

  • Stem cell biology
  • Hair follicle stem cells, Melanocyte stem cells, Epithelial stem cells
  • Hormonal regulation and aging
  • Epithelial biology and skin regeneration

Major publications

  • Lee JH, Choi S (2024) Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of stem cell dynamics in hair follicle regeneration. Exp Mol Med.
  • Lee D et al. (2024) Diabetic sensory neuropathy and insulin resistance are induced by loss of UCHL1 in Drosophila. Nature Comm.
  • Lim C, Lim J, Choi S (2023) Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Neogenesis as a Promising Approach for Hair Regeneration. Mol Cells.
  • Jang H, Jo Y, Lee JH, Choi S (2023) Aging of hair follicle stem cells and their niches. BMB Rep.
  • Choi S et al. (2021) Corticosterone inhibits GAS6 to govern hair follicle stem-cell quiescence. Nature.
  • Zhang B, Ma S, Rachmin I, He M, Baral P, Choi S et al. (2020) Hyperactivation of sympathetic nerves drives depletion of melanocyte stem cells. Nature.

Education

  • B.S., Sogang University, Korea (2007)
  • Ph.D., KAIST, Korea (2014)

Career

  • 2014-2016 : Postdoctoral fellow, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University
  • 2016-2021 : Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University
  • 2021-2021 : Research Associate, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University
  • 2021-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH

Research Image

Se Kyu Choi_Research image

Se Kyu Choi_Research image

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