Commentary: DNA Damage Promotes Epithelial Hyperplasia and Fate Mis-specification via Fibroblast Inflammasome Activation.

Epithelial tissues, while diverse in form, share a critical barrier function that must be properly established throughout development, maintained during homeostasis, and restored following injury. The barrier function of the epidermis, the largest epithelial organ, is essential for animal survival, serving as the body’s outermost protective layer that prevents pathogen entry while promoting fluid retention. Disruptions to epidermal homeostasis require the rapid replacement of lost or damaged cells to efficiently restore barrier integrity. This regenerative capacity relies on quiescent stem cell populations that are primed to proliferate and able to generate the diverse cell types required for tissue function. Nevertheless, stem cell proliferation and plasticity must be stringently controlled, as dysregulation of these behaviors could have tumorigenic consequences1, 2.