생화학분자생물학회

	Sekyu Choi( sekyuchoi@postech.ac.kr )
	2021-Present	Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH
	2021	Research Associate, Dept. of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology/HSCI, Harvard University
	2016-2021	Postdoctoral fellow, Deptartment of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology/HSCI, Harvard University
	2014-2016	Postdoctoral fellow, IMBG, Seoul National University
	2007-2014	PhD, Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST
	2001-2007	BS, Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University

Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of stem cell dynamics in hair follicle regeneration.

Hair follicles, which are connected to sebaceous glands in the skin, undergo cyclic periods of regeneration, degeneration, and rest throughout adult life in mammals. The crucial function of hair follicle stem cells is to maintain these hair growth cycles. Another vital aspect is the activity of melanocyte stem cells, which differentiate into melanin-producing melanocytes, contributing to skin and hair pigmentation. Sebaceous gland stem cells also have a pivotal role in maintaining the skin barrier by regenerating mature sebocytes. These stem cells are maintained in a specialized microenvironment or niche and are regulated by internal and external signals, determining their dynamic behaviors in homeostasis and hair follicle regeneration. The activity of these stem cells is tightly controlled by various factors secreted by the niche components around the hair follicles, as well as immune-mediated damage signals, aging, metabolic status, and stress. In this study, we review these diverse stem cell regulatory and related molecular mechanisms of hair regeneration and disease conditions. Molecular insights would provide new perspectives on the disease mechanisms as well as hair and skin disorder treatment.

Exp Mol Med. 2024 Feb;56(1):110-117. doi: 10.1038/s12276-023-01151-5.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38182654/