Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms governing epidermal stem cell regulation

This review examines the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate epidermal and hair follicle stem cells, crucial for skin maintenance and regeneration. It highlights the roles of transcription factors like p63, YAP, TCF3, SOX9, and LHX2, and epigenetic regulators such as polycomb repressive complexes and histone modifiers in maintaining stem cell identity and function. The review underscores the importance of these mechanisms in balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, with disruptions leading to skin diseases like basal cell carcinoma, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. It also discusses the plasticity of hair follicle stem cells in aiding epidermal regeneration and the potential of single-cell technologies to uncover stem cell heterogeneity and chromatin landscapes. Understanding these regulatory networks is vital for developing therapeutic strategies for skin disorders.