Recombinant human collagen XVII promotes skin repair and regeneration by upregulating Lgr6 signaling pathway

Skin, the body's largest organ, is a critical barrier that often faces damage. Among different Collagen types, Collagen XVII (COL17) is a distinctive type that uniquely supports skin adhesion and integrity, anchoring the epidermis to the dermis and facilitating wound healing. Our previous study has shown powerful skin repair and regeneration abilities of recombinant human COL17 (rhCOL17). However, its impact on the epidermal stem cells and how this effect influences the skin repair and regeneration remains largely unknown. In this study, using ablative fractional laser skin injury and UVB radiation - induced photoaging models, we first revealed that 0.1 % rhCOL17 is optimal for skin repair, which can reduce epidermal thickness and restore skin conditions with increased proliferation of epidermal stem cells. More importantly, our results indicated that rhCOL17 could stimulate the proliferation of Lgr6-positive epidermal stem cells. We also investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms and found that rhCOL17 activates the expression of Lgr6, thereby upregulating the downstream Wnt/β-catenin pathway that ultimately promote skin repair and regeneration. This study provides new insights into the therapeutic applications of rhCOL17 for skin disorders and injuries and offers a promising strategy for improving clinical outcomes in dermatological practice.

Lgr6; Skin repair; rhCOL17.