The Dynamic Duo: Niche/Stem Cell Interdependency

• Live imaging of stem cell behaviors during tissue regeneration
• Niche regulation of stem cell activity
• Epithelial and mesenchymal signaling crosstalk
• Niche and stem cells in cancer

SummaryMost tissues in our bodies undergo constant cellular turnover. This process requires a dynamic balance between cell production and elimination. Stem cells have been shown in many of these tissues to be the major source of new cells. However, despite the tremendous advances made, it still remains unclear how stem cell behavior and activity are regulated in vivo. Furthermore, we lack basic understanding for the mechanisms that coordinate niche/stem cell interactions to maintain normal tissue homeostasis. Our lab has established a novel imaging approach in live mice using the skin as a model system to investigate these fundamental processes in both physiological and pathological settings such as cancer, with the goal of understanding how tissues successfully orchestrate tissue regeneration throughout the lifetime of an organism.