The landscape of GPCR in the skin epidermal stem cells: From the basic to the clinical.

Abstract

Skin, as the body's largest organ, acts as the primary defense mechanism against infection and injury. The maintenance of skin health heavily relies on the regulation of epidermal stem cells, crucial for ensuring epidermal homeostasis, hair regeneration, and the repair of epidermal injuries. Recent studies have placed a growing emphasis on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the context of understanding epidermal stem cells, uncovering its significant role in determining their fate. The activation of GPCR triggers the subsequent dissociation of the βγ subunits from the α subunit of G protein, leading to the modulation of various downstream signaling pathways, such as the WNT-BMP signaling crosstalk and the Gαs-PKA signaling pathway. These pathways collectively influence the fate of epidermal stem cells. Consequently, targeted GPCR therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for improving skin health by orchestrating the fate of epidermal stem cells, unveiling potential therapeutic targets that demand further investigation.