Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis
Published on: December 14, 2015
A dermal HOX transcriptional program regulates site-specific epidermal fate
John L Rinn1, Jordon K Wang, Nancy Allen
1Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions shape site-specific development of skin. Here we show that site-specific HOX expression in fibroblasts is cell-autonomous and epigenetically maintained. The distal-specific gene HOXA13 is continually required to maintain the distal-specific transcriptional program in adult fibroblasts, including expression of WNT5A, a morphogen required for distal development. The ability of distal fibroblasts to induce epidermal keratin 9, a distal-specific gene, is abrogated by depletion of HOXA13, but rescued by addition of WNT5A. Thus, maintenance of appropriate HOX transcriptional program in adult fibroblasts may serve as a source of positional memory to differentially pattern the epithelia during homeostasis and regeneration.
Related Concept Videos
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
Cells of the Epidermis
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
General Transcription Factors
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
Master Transcription Regulators
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

