The Recovery of Epidermal Proliferation Pattern in Human Skin Xenograft

Abnormalities in epidermal keratinocyte proliferation are a characteristic feature of a range of dermatological conditions. These include hyperproliferative states in psoriasis and dermatitis as well as hypoproliferative states in chronic wounds. This emphasises the importance of investigating the proliferation kinetics under conditions of healthy skin and identifying the key regulators of epidermal homeostasis, maintenance, and recovery following wound healing. Animal models contribute to our understanding of human epidermal self-renewal. Human skin xenografting overcomes the ethical limitations of studying human skin during regeneration. The application of this approach has allowed for the identification of a single population of stem cells and both slowly and rapidly cycling progenitors within the epidermal basal layer and the mapping of their location in relation to rete ridges and hair follicles. Furthermore, we have traced the dynamics of the proliferation pattern reorganization that occurs during epidermal regeneration, underlining the role of YAP activity in epidermal relief formation. © 2025 by the authors.