Neuropeptides influence stem cell fate during wound healing

Little is known about the kinetics of hyperproliferation in wound healing, the role of stem cells (SC) and transit amplifying cells (committed progenitors - CP), and relevant SC signaling pathways. To study SC and CP proliferation during wound healing, 6mm wounds were made on the flanks of mice and cell divisions assessed 4d post-wounding using fluorescence microscopy; in vivo using tubulin expression and in vitro using Numb and keratin 1 expression. In wounded vs. intact skin in vivo there were increased basal, but not suprabasal, divisions, with an increase in both perpendicular (asymmetric self-renewal- ASR) and parallel (symmetric) divisions in in the basal layer (4.9 vs.