448 Physiological function of krox20 (Egr2) in epithelial stem cells

Krox20, a zinc finger-containing transcription factor, is well known for mediating stem and progenitor cell activation differentiation in variety of tissues. In recent study, we reported the first time population epithelial-derived Krox20-expressing keratinocytes hair follicle that ultimately terminally differentiate to form structural component shaft. These Krox20-lineage cells also mediate melanocyte via Stem Cell Factor production pigmentation. light importance Krox20 other types, role epidermal development warrants elucidation function epithelial cells. We report here ablation skin caused spontaneous loss, correlated with increased differentiation. On hand, overexpression lines resulted upregulation various SC markers, suggesting maintenance stemness as potential Moreover, observed reduction apoptosis Krox20-overexpressing cells, pointing an additional regulating survival. Analysis molecular mechanisms underlying these observations showed they occur through modulation Notch Wnt/βcatenin pathways. results highlight homeostasis, resident population.