# Identification of novel epidermal progenitors

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2021 · $169,296

## Abstract

The research proposed here addresses the identity of novel epithelial cells in blood and bone marrow.
Epithelial cells identified by cytokeratin expression usually cover body surfaces (like epidermis) or line spaces
(like the linings of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts). However, research has identified
cytokeratin+/EpCAM+ bone marrow derived epithelial cells (BMDECs) in “normal, healthy” murine and human
subjects. To our knowledge, no one has performed functional analyses and characterization of these cells.
This is a significant gap in our knowledge of epithelial biology with ramifications towards human health,
particularly with regard to conditions where hair follicle or epidermal stem cells have been damaged or
destroyed; in instances of chronic inflammation; or in squamous cancers where we know they can function as
tumor initiating cells Moreover, these blood borne epithelial cells currently interfere with liquid biopsies as
“contaminating” cells. We therefore hypothesize that BMDECs include a novel population of progenitors that
can be recruited to chronically compromised epithelium and regenerate it. Our specific aims are to analyze
these cells in vitro and in vivo using strategies that my laboratory and others have developed for identifying
epithelial stem cells in hair follicles and epidermis. The significance of functional analysis of BMDECs will
contribute to understanding epithelial biology and hematology in general, to the validation of liquid biopsy as a
diagnostic tool in cancer research, and help us to achieve our ultimate goal of preventing, diagnosing, and
curing chronic cutaneous diseases including cancer and epidermolysis bullosa. The scientific premise
supporting this hypothesis is predicated upon: 1) RT-PCR detection of traces of cytokeratin expression in blood
and bone marrow of “normal”, healthy human subjects; 2) similar literature reporting rare BMDECs recruited
temporarily to the cutaneous epithelium upon acute injury in mice; 3) several high quality case reports; and 4)
our own Preliminary Data demonstrating recruitment of BMDECs to a subset of squamous papillomas in mice;
and our documenting the presence of BMDECs in “normal” adult mice by four different methods. Therefore, to
test our central hypothesis and thereby achieve major milestones towards our ultimate goal, we will answer the
following questions. Do BMDECs have phenotypic characteristics of epithelial stem cells? And Do BMDECs
behave as epithelial stem cells? Converging evidence suggests that BMDECs are multipotential epithelial
progenitors, and because they are likely multipotential epithelial progenitors they could be used in regenerative
medicine and in circumstances where the tissue stem cells are chronically compromised. Therefore, this
research has the potential to move forward the fields of cutaneous biology, hematology and epithelial biology in
general. This is a completely new direction of research that will lead to new sources of funding...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10162409
- **Project number:** 5R21AR075281-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** REBECCA Jane MORRIS
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $169,296
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10162409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10162409, Identification of novel epidermal progenitors (5R21AR075281-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10162409. Licensed CC0.

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