Stem Cells Reveal How Our Skin is Maintained

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(Ivanhoe Newswire) —The job of our stem cells is never done. All organs in our body rely on stem cells in order to maintain their function. The skin is our largest organ and forms a shield against the environment. New research results from BRIC, University of Copenhagen and Cambridge University, challenges current stem cell models and explains how the skin is maintained throughout life.
Researchers, through mapping of stem cell's behavior in the skin, found out that the skin uses a unique method to renew itself. Their results challenge the current perception of how our skin is renewed.
The study results show that the different stem cell populations collaborate across their normal functions, to repair the skin as fast as possible. However, this can also cause harm, as these changes can "wake up" genes in the stem cells and give rise to cancer. The new results consequently also contribute with new knowledge on the origin of skin cancer.
For more information go to: http://news.ku.dk/
SOURCE: Cell Stem Cell, August 2013