Keratinocyte Stem Cells: Biology and Clinical Applications

Human epidermis represents a large reservoir of stem cells that continue to self-renew throughout life. Stem cells are essential for skin regeneration and for repair after wounding. They allow long-term culture of keratinocytes that produce large sheets of epidermis to cover extensive burns, thus being lifesaving for these patients. Furthermore, stem cells can be expanded in culture, genetically modified to correct the gene deficiency in genetic skin diseases. This chapter will describe the most recent data on stem cell biology and the potential medical applications of these cells.