Epidermal regeneration in native and in vitro engineered skin, indispensably requires the presence of self renewing keratinocyte stem cells. To identify markers specific for keratinocyte stem cells, we screened a series of antibodies for their exclusive binding to the human hair follicle bulge (where those stem cells are known to have their niche). In a second step these antibodies were used to identify basal keratinocytes and potential epithelial stem cells in the human epidermis and in engineered skin substitutes. (Pontiggia 2009).
