1. MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
2. Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
3. Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK

Correspondence to: Philip H. Jones¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to P.H.J. (Email: phj20@hutchison-mrc.cam.ac.uk).

Abstract

According to the current model of adult epidermal homeostasis, skin tissue is maintained by two discrete populations of progenitor cells: self-renewing stem cells; and their progeny, known as transit amplifying cells, which differentiate after several rounds of cell division^{1, 2, 3}. By making use of inducible genetic labelling, we have tracked the fate of a representative sample of progenitor cells in mouse tail epidermis at single-cell resolution in vivo at time intervals up to one year. Here we show that clone-size distributions are consistent with a new model of homeostasis involving only one type of progenitor cell. These cells are found to undergo both symmetric and asymmetric division at rates that ensure epidermal homeostasis. The results raise important questions about the potential role of stem cells on tissue maintenance in vivo.

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.