Distinct mechanisms for sebaceous gland self-renewal and regeneration provide durability in response to injury
Natalia A. Veniaminova,
Yunlong Y. Jia,
Adrien M. Hartigan,
Thomas J. Huyge,
Shih-Ying Tsai,
Marina Grachtchouk,
Seitaro Nakagawa,
Andrzej A. Dlugosz,
Scott X. Atwood,
Sunny Y. Wong
Affiliations
Natalia A. Veniaminova
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Yunlong Y. Jia
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Adrien M. Hartigan
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Thomas J. Huyge
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Shih-Ying Tsai
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Marina Grachtchouk
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Seitaro Nakagawa
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Dermatology, Department of Cutaneous Immunology and Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
Andrzej A. Dlugosz
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Scott X. Atwood
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Corresponding author
Sunny Y. Wong
Department of Dermatology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Sebaceous glands (SGs) release oils that protect our skin, but how these glands respond to injury has not been previously examined. Here, we report that SGs are largely self-renewed by dedicated stem cell pools during homeostasis. Using targeted single-cell RNA sequencing, we uncovered both direct and indirect paths by which resident SG progenitors ordinarily differentiate into sebocytes, including transit through a Krt5+PPARγ+ transitional basal cell state. Upon skin injury, however, SG progenitors depart their niche, reepithelialize the wound, and are replaced by hair-follicle-derived stem cells. Furthermore, following targeted genetic ablation of >99% of SGs from dorsal skin, these glands unexpectedly regenerate within weeks. This regenerative process is mediated by alternative stem cells originating from the hair follicle bulge, is dependent upon FGFR2 signaling, and can be accelerated by inducing hair growth. Altogether, our studies demonstrate that stem cell plasticity promotes SG durability following injury.
