Dendritic Epidermal T Cells Secreting Exosomes Promote the Proliferation of Epidermal Stem Cells to Enhance Wound Re-epithelialization

Background: Efficient re-epithelialization is important for successful skin wound healing. The proportion of epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) and dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) determines the extent of wound re-epithelialization, especially in large areas of skin tissue loss. However, it remains unknown whether and how DETCs regulate the status of EpSCs to impact wound re-epithelialization.

Methods: To investigate how DETCs regulate EpSCs in skin re-epithelialization, we utilized normal or full-thickness skin deficient wide type (WT) mice and Tcrσ knockout (Tcrσ) mice with DETCs or DETCs-derived exosomes (Exos) treatment. Flow cytometry analysis (FCAS), BrdU labelled experiments, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical assays were performed to detect the proportion of EpSCs in the epidermis. Wound closure rate and re-epithelialization were assayed by a macroscopical view and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. EpSCs in vitro were co-cultured with DETCs in a transwell-dependent or -independent manner, or supplement with GW4869 or Exos (5 µg/mL, 15 µg/mL and 45 µg/mL), and the proliferation of EpSCs was detected by means of FCAS and CFSE.

Results: Our data showed that the proportion of CD49fCD71 cells, K15 cells and BrdU cells in the normal epidermis of Tcrδ mice had no significant difference compared to WT mice. For wounded Tcrδ mice, DETCs treatment increase the proportion of CD49fCD71 cells, K15 cells and BrdU cells in the epidermis around the wound in comparison to PBS treatment. DETCs significantly increased the number of CD49fCD7 cells and K15 cells through transwell-dependent or -independent manners relative to control group. Furthermore, Exos stimuli remarkedly promote the proliferation of EpSCs compared to control group, while the increasement was suppressed when DETCs were interfered with GW4869. Gross observation and H&E staining showed that Exos significantly accelerated wound closure and increased re-epithelialization length in Tcrδ mice when compared to control mice. Additionally, we found in vivo that Exos observably facilitated the proliferation of CD49fCD7 cells and K15 cells.

Conclusions: We revealed that DETCs enhanced the proliferation of EpSCs in the epidermis around the wounds to accelerate re-epithelialization in which Exos played important roles in the remote regulation of EpSCs proliferation. Together, these findings suggest a mechanistic link among DETC-derived exosomes, the proliferation of EpSCs, and wound re-epithelialization in the skin.