Award details

The skin as a model system for investigating the role of the mesenchyme on epidermal stem cell fate

Reference	BBS/B/1535X
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Harshad Navsaria
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Michael Philpott
Institution	Queen Mary University of London
Department	Sch of Medicine & Dentistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	215,527
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	04/01/2005
End date	03/07/2008
Duration	42 months

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that cutaneous epithelium contains multiple lineages of stem cells residing in both the epidermis and hair follicle. Moreover, it has also been shown that stem cells within the bulge region of the hair follicle are pluripotent and can follow a number of developmental lineages. The microenvironment, or niche, in which the stem cells reside, is known to play a major role in regulating the fate of stem cells and this is in part imparted by the adjacent mesenchyme. The mesenchyme surrounding the hair follicle is unique in that it retains embryonic inductive capabilities. In preliminary studies we have shown using organotypical cultures that hair follicle mesenchyme appears to retain some of these inductive capabilities in vitro and appears to influence the developmental flexibility of epidermal keratinocytes. The aim of this project is to use this model to investigate the role of mesenchyme in regulating epidermal stem cell fate and to identify key molecular signalling pathways.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Stem Cells
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Stem Cell Science and Engineering Initiative (SCE) [2003-2005]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search