Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
11:02
The Three-Dimensional Human Skin Reconstruct Model: a Tool to Study Normal Skin and Melanoma Progression
Published on: August 3, 2011
p63 is essential for regenerative proliferation in limb, craniofacial and epithelial development
1Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Nature
|May 5, 1999
Summary
The p63 gene is crucial for epithelial development and morphogenesis. Its disruption in mice leads to severe defects in limbs, craniofacial structures, and the absence of squamous epithelia and glands.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Epithelial Biology
Background:
- The p63 gene, a homologue of tumor suppressor p53, is highly expressed in basal and progenitor cells of various epithelial tissues.
- Epithelial tissues are fundamental for organ structure and function, and their proper development is essential for organismal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the p63 gene in embryonic development, specifically in limb, craniofacial, and epithelial morphogenesis.
- To elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental defects observed in the absence of functional p63.
Main Methods:
- Generation and analysis of mice homozygous for a disrupted p63 gene (p63-/-).
- Detailed examination of limb, craniofacial, and epidermal development in p63-/- embryos.
- Histological analysis to assess tissue differentiation and cell populations.
Main Results:
- p63-/- mice exhibit severe defects in limb development, including truncations, due to the failure to maintain the apical ectodermal ridge.
- Craniofacial development is significantly impaired in p63-/- embryos.
- Absence of p63 leads to abnormal epidermal differentiation and a complete lack of squamous epithelia and their derivatives, such as mammary, lacrimal, and salivary glands.
Conclusions:
- The p63 gene is indispensable for maintaining progenitor cell populations required for epithelial development and morphogenesis.
- p63 plays a critical role in the development of stratified epithelia and their derivatives, impacting multiple organ systems.
Related Concept Videos
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
01:19Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...
01:19Overview of Regeneration and Repair
Regeneration and repair processes are critical in healing damages caused by injury, disease, and aging. In regeneration, the damaged tissue is entirely replaced with new growth that restores the original architecture and function. In contrast, tissue repair usually results in a fixed tissue architecture involving scar formation. Scars generally do not reestablish tissue function and may also exhibit structural abnormalities at the injury site.
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...
01:33Whole Body Regeneration
Regeneration is the process of restoring injured or lost tissues, organs, or body parts. While simpler organisms generally show greater ability to regenerate their whole body, few complex animals show similarly exceptional regeneration. For example, planarian flatworms have a unique regenerative potential making them a popular study organism among biologists to understand the mechanisms of whole body regeneration. Other organisms, such as hydra, also show extreme regeneration potential; even...
01:26Cellular Adaptation III: Hyperplasia
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ due to enhanced cell division. It is an adaptive, controlled response to stimuli such as injury, hormones, or stress, involving mitosis to produce genetically identical cells and support tissue repair and regeneration.Tissue CapacityCertain tissues, including the epidermis, intestinal epithelium, bone marrow, and fibroblasts, have a high potential for hyperplasia. Others, such as bone, cartilage, and smooth muscle, show...