We demonstrated that hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are able to sense the integrity of their epithelial niche. By ablating a core cell junction component E-cadherin (encoded by Cdh1), the epithelial niche no longer maintains proper barrier function, leading to microbial infiltration through the hair follicle.  The surrounding HFSCs respond by increasing its expression of immune associated genes and recruiting immune cells to their niche so as to cope with compromised tissue function. SOURCE: Kenneth Lay (kenneth.lay85@gmail.com) -  The Rockefeller University

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE106767: Hair follicle stem cells sense niche integrity and recruit immune cells to contain barrier breaches