Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39879198›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of cell biology2025

Sphingolipid metabolism orchestrates establishment of the hair follicle stem cell compartment.

Franziska Peters, Windie Höfs, Hunki Lee, Susanne Brodesser, Kai Kruse, Hannes C A Drexler, Jiali Hu, Verena K Raker, Dominika Lukas, Esther von Stebut and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of cell biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Sphingolipid Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Franziska PetersStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-3250-3740
Windie Höfs *Department of Cell and Tissue Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-1847-4516
Hunki Lee *Department of Cell and Tissue Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0009-0004-1674-7528
Susanne BrodesserFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5631-0663
Kai KruseMax Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine , Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7951-7357
Hannes C A DrexlerMax Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine , Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8285-0644
Jiali HuDepartment Cell Biology of the Skin, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0009-0009-3371-8901
Verena K RakerDepartment of Dermatology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7264-0371
Dominika LukasDepartment of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9867-0891
Esther von StebutDepartment of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9802-9642
Martin KrönkeFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0566-0692
Carien M NiessenDepartment Cell Biology of the Skin, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4892-9391
Sara A WickströmStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-6383-6292

Funding

Academy of Finland Center of Excellence BarrierForceEuropean Research Council 770877German Research Foundation 455963994Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceMax Planck SocietySigrid Juselius Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sphingolipids serve as building blocks of membranes to ensure subcellular compartmentalization and facilitate intercellular communication. How cell type-specific lipid compositions are achieved and what is their functional significance in tissue morphogenesis and maintenance has remained unclear. Here, we identify a stem cell-specific role for ceramide synthase 4 (CerS4) in orchestrating fate decisions in skin epidermis. Deletion of CerS4 prevents the proper development of the adult hair follicle bulge stem cell (HFSC) compartment due to altered differentiation trajectories. Mechanistically, HFSC differentiation defects arise from an imbalance of key ceramides and their derivate sphingolipids, resulting in hyperactivation of noncanonical Wnt signaling. This impaired HFSC compartment establishment leads to disruption of hair follicle architecture and skin barrier function, ultimately triggering a T helper cell 2-dominated immune infiltration resembling human atopic dermatitis. This work uncovers a fundamental role for a cell state-specific sphingolipid profile in stem cell homeostasis and in maintaining an intact skin barrier.

Indexed as

Hair FollicleSphingolipidsStem CellsAnimalsCell DifferentiationCeramidesDermatitis, AtopicHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutWnt Signaling PathwayCeramidesSphingolipids

Identifiers

PMID39879198
PMCPMC11778283

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.