B10: Intrinsic and microenvironment factors regulating the stem cell maintenance and the niche in normal and neoplastic epidermal cells

 

Petra Boukamp

 

While mouse hair follicles stem cells are well defined, human stem cells from the interfollicular epidermis, the predominant part of human skin, are still poorly understood. We recently developed an organotypic culture model which for the first time allowed their identification as slowly growing so called label retaining cells (LRCs). Using this model, we will now address whether and how far their intrinsic properties contribute to stem cell maintenance and function or whether stem cells rather are determined by their environment, the niche, and how far changes in this niche are responsible for stem cell aging and cancer.