111 Type XVII collagen modulates epidermal patterning

Many mammals show epidermal patterning, as seen in alternating mouse tail scales and in the microtopography of the human skin surface. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of such patterning are poorly understood. Here, we show that type XVII collagen (COL17), a niche for epidermal stem cells, is a factor in determining epidermal patterning. Col17-null mice exhibit slender epidermal tail scales, a condition that is alleviated by...