# Investigating the coordinated endothelial-epithelial interactions in adult hair cycle of mouse skin

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $452,189

## Abstract

Abstract
Highly regenerative tissues such as blood and skin may utilize blood vessels as dual players in
tissue growth functions: one in supplying O2/nutrients and another in regulating tissue stem cell
activity via signaling. Correlative evidence suggest that skin endothelial cells may act as
signaling niches to adult hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), regulating their quiescence. To
demonstrate this, we need gene targeting of signaling molecules in endothelial cells that in turn
would affect stem cell activity. Furthermore, recent work on skin vasculature probed a role of
lymphatic vessels but not of blood vessels in adult HFSC activation. Finally, the extent of skin
vasculature remodeling and its genetic control during the hair cycle are poorly understood. We
propose to use a combined genetic and genomic approach in mice to address all these
questions. Our mouse models provide an exciting entry point to address the cross-
communication of HFSCs with the neighboring endothelial cells, to probe its physiological
relevance, and to place endothelial cells for the first time as bona-fide signaling niches for adult
HFSCs. This work will have future broad relevance for human skin regeneration studies and for
more in depth understanding of skin vasculature disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10834256
- **Project number:** 5R01AR081021-02
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Tudorita Tumbar
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $452,189
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-28 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10834256

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10834256, Investigating the coordinated endothelial-epithelial interactions in adult hair cycle of mouse skin (5R01AR081021-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10834256. Licensed CC0.

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