FOXN1 Transcription Factor in Epithelial Growth and Wound Healing

FOXN1 is a prodifferentiation transcription factor in the skin epithelium. Recently, it has also emerged as an important player in controlling the skin wound healing process, as it actively participates in reepithelialization and is thought to be responsible for scar formation. FOXN1 positivity is also a feature of pigmented keratinocytes, including nevi, and FOXN1 is an attribute of benign epithelial tumors. The lack of FOXN1 favors the skin regeneration process displayed by nude mice, pointing to FOXN1 as a switch between regeneration and reparative processes. The stem cell niche provides a functional source of cells after the loss of tissue following wounding. The involvement of prodifferentiation factors in the regulation of this pool of stem cells is suggested. However, the exact mechanism is still under question, and we speculate that the FOXN1 transcription factor is involved in this process. This review analyzes the pleiotropic effects of FOXN1 in the skin, its function in the tumorigenesis process, and its potential role in depletion of the stem cell niche after injury, as well as its suggested mechanistic role, acting in a cell-autonomous and a non-cell-autonomous manner during skin self-renewal.