Naik S*, Larsen SB*, Gomez N, Alaverdyan K, Sendoel A, Polak L, Kulukian A, Chai S and Fuchs E. Inflammatory memory sensitizes skin epithelial stem cells to tissue damage. *Equal author contribution. Corresponding author. Nature. 550(7677): 475-480 Oct 2017
Here we report that acute inflammation trains epithelial stem cells to respond faster to subsequent stressors. This work is the first to identify inflammatory memory in a non-immune cells and has significant implications for our understanding of inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Learn moreHorsley V and Naik S. Tregs Expand the Skin Stem Cell Niche. Developmental Cell. 41(5):455-456 June, 2017
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are emerging as an essential stem cell niche component that promotes wound repair in adipose, muscle, and lung tissues. Recently in Cell, Ali et al. (2017) report that skin resident Tregs facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells through Notch signaling.
Learn moreSendoel A, Dunn J, Gonzales E, Naik S, Gomez N, Hurwitz B, Levorse J, Dill BD, Schramek S, Molina H, Weissman J and Fuchs E. Translation from Unconventional 5’ Start Sites Drives Tumor Initiation. Nature. 541(7638):494-499 Jan, 2017
We are just beginning to understand how translational control affects tumour initiation and malignancy. Here we use an epidermis-specific, in vivo ribosome profiling strategy to investigate the translational landscape during the transition from normal homeostasis to malignancy.
Learn moreKeyes B*, Liu S*, Asare A, Naik S, LevorseJ, Nikolova M, Pasoli A and Fuchs E. Impaired signaling between epidermal and dendritic epidermal T cells slows wound repair in aging. Cell.167(5)1323-1338 Nov, 2016.
Aged skin heals wounds poorly, increasing susceptibility to infections. Restoring homeostasis after wounding requires the coordinated actions of epidermal and immune cells. Here we find that both intrinsic defects and communication with immune cells are impaired in aged keratinocytes, diminishing their efficiency in restoring the skin barrier after wounding.
Learn moreKulukian A, Vitre B, Holland A, Naik S, Cleveland D, Fuchs E. Epidermal development, growth control, and homeostasis in the face of centrosome amplification. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112(46):E6311-E6320 Nov, 2015
The full extent to which centrosome amplification might directly contribute to human disease is poorly understood. Our findings challenge the role for centrosome amplification in the initiation of skin tumorigenesis and demonstrate that certain tissues are better able to cope with its burden.
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