Human Epidermal Stem Cells: Molecular Identifiers and Functional Regulators

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to inform you of the opening of a Special Issue of the journal Biomolecules, relating to research on the molecular characteristics of stem cells from the human epidermis.

Skin is a stem cell reservoir and thus constitutes unique model for exploring the functional and molecular characteristics of tissue stem cells in human. In particular, its epidermal components (i.e., interfollicular epidermis and hair follicles) host populations of epithelial stem cells that both participate in the maintenance of skin homeostasis, through renewal and regenerative functions. The regenerative capacity of epidermal stem cells, in particular those of the interfollicular epidermis, has given rise to pioneering biotherapies (skin substitutes for grafting in severe burns, and combined cell and gene therapy for a genodermatosis). Despite their well-established clinical potential, stem cells from the human epidermis remain to date partially characterized at the molecular level. Indeed, the mechanisms governing their biology have been studied more extensively in rodent models than in human ones. Deciphering the stemness status in the model of the human epidermis, as well as that of the mechanisms controlling the potentialities of the stem cells of this tissue such as self-renewal, constitutes a challenge on a fundamental level, but also for the design of next-generation biotherapies.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles focusing on state-of-the-art and novel knowledge on the molecular identifiers of human epidermal stem cells and the molecular effectors involved in controlling their fate and functions. The covered areas include but are not limited to:

• Epithelial stem cells from the interfollicular epidermis and hair follicles;
• Molecular identifiers and phenotypic markers;
• Regulation of stemness, self-renewal, and differentiation orientation;
• Protein-coding genome, non-coding genome, epigenetic factors;
• Molecular dialogues with other skin resident cells;
• Molecular responses to exposome factors and stimuli;
• Pathophysiological molecular dysregulations affecting epidermis stem cells;

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Nicolas O. Fortunel
Dr. Gilles Lemaître
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• human epidermis
• stem cells
• intrinsic characters
• dialogues
• exposome