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).

본 연구실은 성체 줄기세포의 발생 및 분화 과정을 연구하고 피부 조직에 존재하는 모낭줄기세포, 멜라닌 줄기세포와 조직 재생의 상관관계를 종합적으로 이해하고자 합니다.
특히, 이들 성체 줄기세포와 주변 환경의 조절 메커니즘 연구는 기초적인 재생생물학의 이론 정립과 함께 새로운 질병 치료법을 제시하고자 합니다

연구주제로는
(1) 줄기세포 정지 (Stem cell quiescence)의 조절 과정 연구를 통한 조직재생 과정 발굴
(2) 성체 줄기세포와 주변 미세환경의 상호 조절과정 이해
(3) 피부 성체줄기세포 조절 연구 (모낭 줄기세포와 멜라닌 줄기세포)
(4) 피부 상피 조직의 발생, 분화, 성장과정 이해
(5) 노화와 줄기세포의 상관관계 이해
(6) 피부 오가노이드 연구

• ㆍStem cell biology
• ㆍHair follicle stem cells, Melanocyte stem cells, Epithelial stem cells
• ㆍHormonal regulation and aging
• ㆍEpithelial biology and skin regeneration

• ㆍLee JH, Choi S (2024) Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of stem cell dynamics in hair follicle regeneration. Exp Mol Med.
• ㆍLee D et al. (2024) Diabetic sensory neuropathy and insulin resistance are induced by loss of UCHL1 in Drosophila. Nature Comm.
• ㆍLim C, Lim J, Choi S (2023) Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Neogenesis as a Promising Approach for Hair Regeneration. Mol Cells.
• ㆍJang H, Jo Y, Lee JH, Choi S (2023) Aging of hair follicle stem cells and their niches. BMB Rep.
• ㆍChoi S et al. (2021) Corticosterone inhibits GAS6 to govern hair follicle stem-cell quiescence. Nature.
• ㆍZhang 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.

• ㆍB.S., Sogang University, Korea (2007)
• ㆍPh.D., KAIST, Korea (2014)

• ㆍ2014-2016 : Postdoctoral fellow, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University
• ㆍ2016-2021 : Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University
• ㆍ2021-2021 : Research Associate, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University
• ㆍ2021-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH