Review: skin nerves and epithelial stem cells across development, regeneration, aging and sex
This review argues that sensory and sympathetic nerves act as niches for skin epithelial stem cells and help regulate homeostasis, regeneration and healing; it also examines how aging and sex shape these neuroepithelial interactions. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review states that cutaneous nerves serve as epithelial stem cell niches and regulate homeostasis, regeneration, healing and adaptation. [1]
Sensory and autonomic nerves are described as regulating epithelial stem cells via direct neurotransmitter signaling and neuroimmune and neurostromal interactions. [1]
The review discusses evidence that age-associated degeneration of cutaneous innervation may impair stem cell function and tissue resilience, and notes sex-dependent differences. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Skin tissue and its neural, epithelial, immune and stromal compartments, as discussed in the review
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 26, 2026
Nerves as stem cell niches in skin
The abstract describes skin as highly innervated, with neural circuits interacting with epithelial, immune and stromal compartments. Sensory and sympathetic nerves were historically seen mainly as conduits for environmental input and autonomic output. Recent studies cited in the review instead show cutaneous nerves serving as epithelial stem cell niches across compartments and regulating homeostasis, regeneration, healing and adaptation to environmental change.
Supporting source [1]
Signals linking nerves, stem cells and body state
The review examines emerging evidence that sensory and autonomic nerves regulate epithelial stem cells through direct neurotransmitter signaling and through neuroimmune and neurostromal interactions. These mechanisms, as described, let neural circuits combine local environmental cues with systemic physiological signals such as temperature, stress, circadian rhythms and metabolic state. The abstract also notes evidence for sex-dependent differences, in which males and females reach similar physiological outcomes via distinct neuroimmune and neuroendocrine mechanisms.
Supporting source [1]
Aging, nerve degeneration and stem cell function
The review explores how aging alters neuroepithelial interactions and discusses evidence that age-associated degeneration of cutaneous innervation may impair stem cell function and tissue resilience. It proposes a neuroepithelial model of skin in which neural circuits regulate stem cell behavior and tissue adaptation throughout the lifespan, and suggests that interactions among neural, epithelial, immune and stromal networks may reveal conserved mechanisms with broad therapeutic potential for preserving tissue function.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract of a review; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no study design details, sample sizes, follow-up or effect estimates, and its statements about mechanisms and therapeutic potential are proposals or interpretations rather than demonstrated human outcomes.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Zheng Y, Mueller K, Pangilinan GR, Shwartz Y. · europepmc.org · September 26, 2026