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Structural–Functional Units of Epidermis

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Abstract

The available data suggest that epidermis is organized as a system of discrete structural–functional units (SFUs) that reproduce both in vivo and in vitro. SFUs are formed in the culture of epidermal keratinocytes via self-organization of the developing cellular elements. SFUs are capable of self-maintenance and form a niche for stem cells. At the same time, due to the maintenance of asymmetric proliferation kinetics of the stem cells, SFUs serve as a barrier to their uncontrolled replication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Kol'tsov Institute of Developmental Biology, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow, 119808, Russia

    V. V. Terskikh, A. V. Vasiliev & E. A. Vorotelyak

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  1. V. V. Terskikh
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  2. A. V. Vasiliev
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  3. E. A. Vorotelyak
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Terskikh, V.V., Vasiliev, A.V. & Vorotelyak, E.A. Structural–Functional Units of Epidermis. Biology Bulletin 30, 535–539 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIBU.0000007707.27823.be

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIBU.0000007707.27823.be

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