Characterisation of a skin stem cell niche

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NESCI would be interested in funding / studentship opportunities for the following proposal.

NESCI are interested in industrial partners who may like to collaborate in one of these fields (for a CASE studentship or other awards), or in anyone who is interested in these areas of research (including other academic groups). For further details, please contact Helen Clamp from NESCI.

Project: Characterisation of a skin stem cell niche

Lead: Dr Arto Maatta and Professor Colin Jahoda

The hair follicle harbours at least three different stem cell populations: epidermal stem cells, melanocyte stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The epidermal stem cell niche in the hair follicle bulge is supported by a specialised extracellular matrix, the glassy membrane. We have carried out an initial proteomic characterisation of the glassy membrane in rat whisker follicles. Stem cell niche proteome includes proteins involved in matrix assembly and stabilisation. One such identified protein is Inter-alpha-trypsin Inhibitor, (II) which forms covalent complexes with proteoglycan bikunin. The first aim of this project is to characterise localisation and expression of bikunin and associated IaI proteins in hair follicle stem cell niche during hair cycling and wound healing. Cell cultures enriched for epidermal or hair follicle –derived mesenchymal stem cells will be utilised to study of bikunin and II protein function by RNAi. The second aim is to conduct a large scale purification and proteomic analysis of the hair follicle basement membrane to further characterise the matrix components that contribute to the stem cell niche. The described project is designed to increase our understanding on how extracellular matrix modulates stem cell niches in skin.