Tcf3 and Tcf4 are essential for long-term homeostasis of skin epithelia

H Nguyen, BJ Merrill, L Polak, M Nikolova, M Rendl… - Nature …, 2009 - nature.com
H Nguyen, BJ Merrill, L Polak, M Nikolova, M Rendl, TM Shaver, HA Pasolli, E Fuchs
Nature genetics, 2009nature.com
Single-layered embryonic skin either stratifies to form epidermis or responds to Wnt
signaling (stabilized β-catenin) to form hair follicles. Postnatally, stem cells continue to
differentially use Wnt signaling in long-term tissue homeostasis. We have discovered that
embryonic progenitor cells and postnatal hair follicle stem cells coexpress Tcf3 and Tcf4,
which can act as transcriptional activators or repressors. Using loss-of-function studies and
transcriptional analyses, we uncovered consequences to the absence of Tcf3 and Tcf4 in …
Abstract
Single-layered embryonic skin either stratifies to form epidermis or responds to Wnt signaling (stabilized β-catenin) to form hair follicles. Postnatally, stem cells continue to differentially use Wnt signaling in long-term tissue homeostasis. We have discovered that embryonic progenitor cells and postnatal hair follicle stem cells coexpress Tcf3 and Tcf4, which can act as transcriptional activators or repressors. Using loss-of-function studies and transcriptional analyses, we uncovered consequences to the absence of Tcf3 and Tcf4 in skin that only partially overlap with those caused by β-catenin deficiency. We established roles for Tcf3 and Tcf4 in long-term maintenance and wound repair of both epidermis and hair follicles, suggesting that Tcf proteins have both Wnt-dependent and Wnt-independent roles in lineage determination.
nature.com