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Published on: December 14, 2015
Regulation of Cell Polarity and Tissue Architecture in Epidermal Aging and Cancer
Oana D Persa1, Janis Koester2, Carien M Niessen3
1Department Cell Biology of the Skin, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Abstract:
The mammalian skin is essential to protect the organism from external damage while at the same time enabling communication with the environment. Aging compromises skin function and regeneration, which is further exacerbated by external influences, such as UVR from the sun. Aging and UVR are also major risk factors contributing to the development of skin cancer. Whereas aging research traditionally has focused on the role of DNA damage and metabolic and stress pathways, less is known about how aging affects tissue architecture and cell dynamics in skin homeostasis and regeneration and whether changes in these processes promote skin cancer. This review highlights how key regulators of cell polarity and adhesion affect epidermal mechanics, tissue architecture, and stem cell dynamics in skin aging and cancer.
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