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).