Defining the role of fibroblasts in skin expansion

Concurrently, fibroblasts reduce collagen production and upregulate extracellular matrix remodelling factors, adopting a more embryonic-like program. Because embryonic fibroblasts are widely used as feeder layers to support the expansion of epidermal stem cells for clinical application, we leveraged this model to show that a low collagen state enhances epidermal stem cell self-renewal, thereby coordinating epidermal and dermal responses during skin expansion.

These findings provide valuable insights to guide the design of in vivo stretch-mediated tissue expansion protocols and the production of in vitro skin grafts for clinical application.