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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Isolating Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Epidermal Keratinocytes from Dorsal Mouse Skin
Published on: April 29, 2016
Lrig1 expression defines a distinct multipotent stem cell population in mammalian epidermis
Kim B Jensen1, Charlotte A Collins, Elisabete Nascimento
1Laboratory for Epidermal Stem Cell Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Cell Stem Cell
|May 12, 2009
Summary
Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein 1 (Lrig1) marks mouse interfollicular epidermal stem cells. Loss of Lrig1 leads to epidermal hyperproliferation, suggesting Lrig1 is crucial for stem cell regulation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein 1 (Lrig1) is a known marker of human interfollicular epidermal stem cells, maintaining their quiescent state.
- The precise role and localization of Lrig1 in mouse epidermal stem cell populations remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function and localization of Lrig1 in the mouse epidermis.
- To determine the contribution of Lrig1-expressing cells to epidermal homeostasis and regeneration.
- To elucidate the relationship between Lrig1, Myc, and beta-catenin signaling in epidermal stem cell regulation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry to identify Lrig1 expression patterns in mouse epidermis.
- In vitro stem cell culture to assess the proliferative capacity of Lrig1-deficient cells.
- Skin reconstitution assays to evaluate the differentiation potential of Lrig1-expressing cells.
- Analysis of epidermal phenotypes following Lrig1 loss and beta-catenin activation.
Main Results:
- Lrig1 marks the hair follicle junctional zone in mouse epidermis, adjacent to sebaceous glands and infundibulum.
- Lrig1 is a Myc target gene; its loss enhances stem cell proliferation in vitro and causes epidermal hyperproliferation in vivo.
- Lrig1-expressing cells are bipotent, contributing to both sebaceous glands and interfollicular epidermis during homeostasis and upon retinoic acid stimulation.
- Loss of Lrig1 exacerbates beta-catenin-induced ectopic hair follicle formation in the interfollicular epidermis.
Conclusions:
- Lrig1-positive cells represent a previously unidentified reservoir of adult mouse interfollicular epidermal stem cells.
- Lrig1 plays a critical role in maintaining epidermal stem cell quiescence and regulating proliferation.
- Lrig1 acts as a tumor suppressor by limiting beta-catenin-driven epidermal hyperplasia and ectopic follicle formation.
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