Hairy math: Addition of Wnt-3a to multiply bulge cells

Abstract

Canonical Wnt signals are important for activation of epithelial skin stem cells, but the role of individual Wnt ligands remains uncertain. Ouji et al. demonstrate a key role for Wnt-3a in partial maintenance and long-term expansion of epithelial skin stem cells in vitro. They also report a method for expanding these cells in vitro without feeder cells.