Science · 29 October 2026 · From issue 59
A commensally regulated immune rheostat fine-tunes skin barrier fitness
In mice, immune cells in skin release a signal that controls stem cell growth and barrier strength.
Anita Gola, Rohith Srinivas et al.
Special immune cells in mouse skin act like a dial that controls how fast skin stem cells grow. These cells release a chemical signal that tells stem cells to slow down and finish turning into tough, protective skin. When this signal is blocked, stem cells grow too fast and skin cannot build a strong barrier. The immune cells adjust the signal based on the germs normally living on the skin.
Shows how immune cells and skin germs together control stem cell activity in mouse skin.
Mice only, no human skin data yet.
Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 30 October 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Science). Read the source
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