Publications

2026

• Skin fibroblasts in health and disease: From extracellular matrix remodeling to immune regulation
  Marella S, Plikus MV, Gudjonsson JE#.
  J Invest Dermatol 2026, S0022-202X(25)03638-3

2025

• Molecular signatures and signaling interactions of the hair follicle stem cell niche
  Ghuwalewala S, Cao J, Rezza A, Rangl M, Kwiatkowski A, Brown A, Grisanti L, Heitman N, Schober M, Wang Z, Ma’ayan A, Almet AA, Plikus MV, Rendl M#.
  J Invest Dermatol 2025, S0022-202X(25)03637-1

• Methods and techniques for dissecting mechanical regulation of wound healing using photocrosslinkable biomaterials
  Enriquez-Ochoa D, Butenko S, Plikus MV, Liu WF#.
  J Invest Dermatol 2025, S0022-202X(25)03606-1

• Adrenergic signaling coordinates distant and local responses to amputation in axolotl
  Payzin-Dogru D, Froitzheim T, Blair SJ, Jena SG, Singer H, Paoli JC, Kim RT, Kriukov E, Wilson SE, Hou R, Savage AM, Cat V, Cammarata LV, Wu SYC, Bothe V, Erdogan B, Hossain S, Lopez N, Losner J, Velazquez Matos J, Min S, Böhm S, Striker AE, Dooling KE, Freedman AH, Groves B, Tajer B, Kalu G, Wynn E, Wong AYL, Fröbisch N, Baranov P, Plikus MV, Buenrostro JD, Haas BJ, Chiu IM, Sackton TB, Whited JL#.
  Cell 2025, 188(26): 7445-7460.e10

• Adipocyte lipolysis activates epithelial stem cells for hair regeneration through fatty acid metabolic signaling
  Tai KY, Chen CL, Fan SM, Kuan CH, Lin CK, Huang HW, Lee HW, Wang SH, Chang NW, Lin JD, Chang CF, Yang KC, Plikus MV, Lin SJ#.
  Cell Metabolism 2025, 26: 1807-1820S1550-4131(25)00397-3

• Androgenetic alopecia
  Liu Y, Tosti A, Wang ECE, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Aguh C, Jimenez F, Lin SJ, Kwon O, Plikus MV#
  Nature Reviews Disease Primers 2025, 11: 73

• Ready, set, but no go: Skin fat comes preloaded with waiting precursors
  Shin JW, Plikus MV#
  Cell Stem Cell 2025, 32: 1315-1317

• A single-cell and spatial genomics atlas of human skin fibroblasts reveals shared disease-related fibroblast subtypes across tissues
  Steele L, Olabi B, Roberts K, Mazin PV, Koplev S, Tudor C, Rumney B, Admane C, Jiang T, Correa-Gallegos D, Chakala KP, Binkevich A, Gopee NH, Predeus A, Prete M, Winheim E, Annusver K, Forsthuber A, Francis L, Frech S, Ganier C, Layton T, Liu Y, Yuan H, Gudjonsson JE, Lichtenberger BM, Mahil S, Nanchahal J, O’Toole EA, Plikus MV, Rinkevich Y, Rognoni E, Smith CH, Teichmann SA, Kasper M, Foster AR, Lotfollahi M, Haniffa M#.
  Nature Immunology 2025, 26: 1807-1820

• Osteopontin de-escalates the foreign body response
  Butenko S, Plikus MV#
  Nature Biomedical Engineering 2025, s41551-025-01472-y

• Mesenchymal SLMAP coordinates with MST3 to govern gut elongation during development
  Pan Y, Wang S, Yang W, Wu X, Zhang H, Du S, Zhang M, Hou L, Plikus MV, Shuai J, Lv C, Yu L, Yu Z#.
  Development 2025, dev.204483

• Skin-associated cartilage is a distinct type of lipid-filled tissue
  Ramos R, Plikus MV#
  J Invest Dermatol 2025, S0022-202X(25)00092-2

• ROS-induced cytosolic release of mitochondrial PGAM5 promotes colorectal cancer progression by interacting with MST3
  Wang S, Wu X, Bi W, Xu J, Hou L, Li G, Pan Y, Zhang H, Li M, Du S, Zhang M, Liu D, Jin S, Shi X, Tian Y, Shuai J, Plikus MV, Song M, Zhou Z, Yu L#, Lv C#, Yu Z#.
  Nature Communications 2025, 16: 1406

• Fish gills and human ears share the same genetic blueprint
  Liu R, Plikus MV#
  Nature 2025, d41586-025-00342-6

• Designing and evaluating circadian experiments on mouse skin
  Duan J, Karri SS, Forouzesh K, Mortimer T, Plikus MV, Benitah SA, Takahashi JS, Andersen B.#
  J Invest Dermatol 2025, S0022-202X(25)00018-1

• Evolution of long scalp hair in humans
  Chang LY, Plikus MV#, Jablonski NG#, Lin SJ#
  British Journal of Dermatology 2025, ljae456

                    UCI News: Unlocking the Secrets of Long Hair: New Paper Sheds Light on the Evolution and Importance of Human Scalp Hair
                    The Scientist: Why do Humans Have Long Scalp Hair?
                    Wall Street Journal: Hair Kept Our Ancestors’ Brains Cool—And Gave Them an Evolutionary Advantage
                    Daily Mail: Scientists have uncovered a ‘simple’ way to cure hair loss

• Superstable lipid vacuoles endow cartilage with its shape and biomechanics
  Ramos R, Pham KT, Prince RC, Leiser-Miller LB, Prasad MS, Wang X, Nordberg RC, Bielajew BJ, Hu JC, Yamaga K, Oh JW, Peng T, Datta R, Astrowskaja A, Almet AA, Burns JT, Liu Y, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Tran BQ, Chu YL, Nguyen AM, Hsi TC, Lim NT, Schoeniger S, Liu R, Pai YL, Vadivel CK, Ingleby S, McKechnie AE, van Breukelen F, Hoehn KL, Rasweiler JJ 4th, Kohara M, Loughry WJ, Weldy SH, Cosper R, Yang CC, Lin SJ, Cooper KL, Santana SE, Bradley JE, Kiebish MA, Digman M, James DE, Merrill AE, Nie Q, Schilling TF, Astrowski AA, Potma EO, García-Castro MI, Athanasiou KA, Behringer RR, Plikus MV#
  Science 2025, 387(6730): eads9960

                    Science, Perspective: A long-ignored skeletal tissue filled with oil
                    UCI News: UC Irvine-led discovery of new skeletal tissue advances regenerative medicine potential
                    Science: Scientists unlock secrets of ear’s origin and construction
                    Nature: Revealed: the fatty cells that are the ‘bubble wrap’ of the body
                    NIH News: Unwrapping the secrets of a novel cartilage cell could inform regenerative medicine efforts
                    NSF News: Unique skeletal tissue may enable new regenerative medical treatments
                    New Scientist: Your ears and nose are made from tissue that looks like bubble wrap
                    WIRED: These Newly Identified Cells Could Change the Face of Plastic Surgery
                    Scientific American: Our Ears Share a Common Ancestry with Fish Gills
                    Smithsonian Magazine: Why Do Mammals Have Outer Ears? Scientists Are Getting Closer to Solving the Mystery
                    Life Science: Scientists discover new kind of cartilage that looks like fat-filled ‘Bubble Wrap’
                    Additional news coverage by Inside Precision Medicine, Orange County Business Journal, SciTech Daily, Futurity

2024

• m6A Reader PRRC2A Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression via CK1ε-Mediated Activation of WNT and YAP Signaling Pathways
  Wu X, Wang S, Pan Y, Li M, Song M, Zhang H, Deng M, Yang X, Xu J, Zhang S, Zhang J, Wang F, Plikus MV, Lv C, Yu L, Yu Z#
  Advanced Science 2024, advs.202406935

• Secure ancient animal remains from permafrost
  Ramos R, Plotnikov V, Cheprasov MY, Plikus MV#
  Science 2024, 386(6721):501

• Ancestral diversity of skin reaches single-cell resolution
  Liu Y, Andersen B, Gudjonsson JE, Plikus MV#
  J Invest Dermatol 2024, S0022-202X(24)02071-2

• CellChat for systematic analysis of cell-cell communication from single-cell transcriptomics
  Jin S#, Plikus MV, Nie Q#
  Nature Protocols 2024, s41596-024-01045-4

• Hydrogel crosslinking modulates macrophages, fibroblasts, and their communication, during wound healing
  Butenko S, Nagalla RR, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Palomba F, David LM, Nguyen RQ, Gay D, Almet AA, Digman MA, Nie Q, Scumpia PO, Plikus MV, Liu WF#
  Nature Communications 2024, 15(1):6820

• Integrated single-cell analysis reveals spatially and temporally dynamic heterogeneity in fibroblast states during wound healing
  Almet AA, Liu Y, Nie Q#, Plikus MV#
  J Invest Dermatol 2024, S0022-202X(24)01884-0

• Three-dimensional genome architecture persists in a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth skin samplee
  Sandoval-Velasco M, Dudchenko O, Rodríguez JA, Pérez Estrada C, Dehasque M, Fontsere C, Mak SST, Khan R, Contessoto VG, Oliveira Junior AB, Kalluchi A, Zubillaga Herrera BJ, Jeong J, Roy RP, Christopher I, Weisz D, Omer AD, Batra SS, Shamim MS, Durand NC, O’Connell B, Roca AL, Plikus MV, Kusliy MA, Romanenko SA, Lemskaya NA, Serdyukova NA, Modina SA, Perelman PL, Kizilova EA, Baiborodin SI, Rubtsov NB, Machol G, Rath K, Mahajan R, Kaur P, Gnirke A, Garcia-Treviño I, Coke R, Flanagan JP, Pletch K, Ruiz-Herrera A, Plotnikov V, Pavlov IS, Pavlova NI, Protopopov AV, Di Pierro M, Graphodatsky AS, Lander ES, Rowley MJ, Wolynes PG, Onuchic JN, Dalén L, Marti-Renom MA, Gilbert MTP, Aiden EL
  Cell 2024, 187: 3541-3562

• Parsing patterns: Emerging roles of tissue self-organization in health and disease
  Ramos R, Swedlund B, Ganesan AK, Morsut L, Maini PK, Monuki ES, Lander AD#, Chuong CM#, Plikus MV#
  Cell 2024, 187: 3165-3186

• Dermal TRPV1 innervations engage a macrophage- and fibroblast-containing pathway to activate hair growth in mice
  Ben-Shaanan TL, Knöpper K, Duan L, Liu R, Taglinao H, Xu Y, An J, Plikus MV, Cyster JG
  Developmental Cell 2024, S1534-5807(24)00337-X

• Emx2 underlies the development and evolution of marsupial gliding membranes
  Moreno JA*, Dudchenko O*, Feigin CY, Mereby SA, Chen Z, Ramos R, Almet AA, Sen H, Brack BJ, Johnson MR, Li S, Wang W, Gaska JM, Ploss A, Weisz D, Omer AD, Yao W, Colaric Z, Kaur P, Leger J, Nie Q, Mena A, Flanagan JP, Keller G, Sanger T, Ostrow B, Plikus MV, Kvon EZ, Aiden EL#, Mallarino R#
  Nature 2024, s41586-024-07305-3

                    News & Views: Marsupial genomes reveal how a skin membrane for gliding evolved
                    News coverage by Scientific American

• mTORC2-AKT signaling to PFKFB2 activates glycolysis that enhances stemness and tumorigenicity of intestinal epithelial cells
  Li M, Wu X, Pan Y, Song M, Yang X, Xu J, Plikus MV, Lv C#, Yu L#, Yu Z#
  FASEB J. 2024, 38 (5): e23532

• Ancient skin sported intricately patterned scales
  Plikus MV#
  Nature 2024, d41586-024-00587-7

• Excessive nucleic acid R-loops induce mitochondria-dependent epithelial cell necroptosis and drive spontaneous intestinal inflammation
  Yang X, Li G, Lou P, Zhang M, Yao K, Xiao J, Chen Y, Xu J, Tian S, Deng M, Pan Y, Li M, Wu X, Liu R, Shi X, Tian Y, Yu L, Ke H, Jiao B, Cong Y, Plikus MV, Liu X#, Yu Z#, Lv C#
  PNAS 2024, 121 (1) e2307395120

2023

• Delayed collagen production without myofibroblast formation contributes to reduced scarring in adult skin micro-wounds
  Kuan CH, Tai KY, Lu SC, Wu YF, Wu PS, Kwang N, Wang WH, Mai-Yi Fan S, Wang SH, Chien HF, Lai HS, Lin MH, Plikus MV, Lin SJ
  J Invest Dermatol 2023, J.JID.2023.10.029

• Aged skin cells nurture stem cells toward regeneration
  Wang X, Plikus MV#
  J Invest Dermatol 2023, J.JID.2023.07.028

• Mapping human skin: one sequenced cell at a time
  Liu Y, Plikus MV#
  J Invest Dermatol 2023, 143(11): 2093-2096

• A roadmap for a consensus human skin cell atlas and single-cell data standardization
  Almet AA, Yuan H, Annusver K, Ramos R, Liu Y, Wiedemann J, Sorkin DH, Landén NX, Sonkoly E, Haniffa M, Nie Q, Lichtenberger BM, Luecken MD, Andersen B, Tsoi LC, Watt FM, Gudjonsson JE, Plikus MV#, Kasper M#
  J Invest Dermatol 2023, 143(9): 1667-1677

                    Commentary: The human skin cell atlas: mapping the organ at unprecedented depth

• Studying hair growth cycle and its effects on mouse skin
  Wang WH, Ramos R, Tai KY, Wu YS, Chang TY, Yan JY, Plikus MV#, Oh JW#, Lin SJ#
  J Invest Dermatol 2023, 143(9): 1638-1645

• Signalling by senescent melanocytes hyperactivates hair growth
  Wang X, Ramos R, Phan AQ, Yamaga K, Flesher JL, Jiang S, Oh JW, Jin S, Jahid S, Kuan CH, Nguyen TK, Liang HY, Shettigar NU, Hou R, Tran KH, Nguyen A, Vu KN, Phung JL, Ingal JP, Levitt KM, Cao X, Liu Y, Deng Z, Taguchi N, Scarfone VM, Wang G, Paolilli KN, Wang X, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Davis RT, Greenberg EN, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Murad R, Widyastuti LHP, Lee HL, McElwee KJ, Gadeau AP, Lawson DA, Andersen B, Mortazavi A, Yu Z, Nie Q, Kunisada T, Karin M, Tuckermann J, Esko JD, Ganesan AK, Li J, Plikus MV#
  Nature 2023, 618(7966):808-817

                    UCI News: UC Irvine-led researchers reveal new molecular mechanism for stimulating hair growth
                    NIH (NIAMS): Research Into Naturally Occurring Hair Growth in Skin Nevi May Inform New Regenerative Therapies
                    NBC News: Skin moles that grow hair may offer a potential treatment for baldness, a study in mice suggests
                    FOX News: New hair loss treatments may be on the way after major discovery, researchers say
                    Insider: Scientists believe they’ve discovered a cure for baldness. It’s hiding in your hairy moles — and can be injected like Botox
                    New York Post: Cure for baldness might be hiding in your hairy moles, new study finds
                    WIRED: A Hair Loss Study Raises New Questions About Aging Cells
                    The Scientist: Islands of Knowledge: Hairy Skin Moles Make Their Mark
                    New Scientist: Can we finally reverse balding with these new experimental treatments?
                    Fierce Biotech: The culprit behind hairy moles could treat pattern baldness
                    Inverse: Hairy Moles Could Actually Hold the Cure for Baldness
                    WebMD: Hairy Moles May Contain the Cure for Baldness: Study
                    HealthLine: Scientists Investigate Solution to Hair Loss and it Can Be Injected Like Botox
                    Futurity: Discovery may lead to new therapies for hair loss
                    Practical Dermatology: Osteopontin Potently Stimulates Hair Follicle Stem Cells for Robust Hair Growth
                    Additional news coverage by Daily Mail, The Mirror, OC Register, OC Business Journal, Telemundo, Audacy, New Atlas, Medium, Jerusalem Post, Technology Networks, News Medical, Prevention, Drug Discovery News

• Dynamic interplay between IL-1 and WNT pathways in regulating dermal adipocyte lineage cells during skin development and wound regeneration
  Sun L, Zhang X, Wu S, Liu Y, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Liu W, Huang J, Yao Q, Yin M, Li J, Ramos R, Liao Y, Wu R, Xia T, Zhang X, Yang Y, Li F, Heng S, Zhang W, Yang M, Tzeng CM, Ji C, Plikus MV, Gallo RL, Zhang LJ#
  Cell Reports 2023, 42(6):112647

• IRX5 promotes DNA damage repair and activation of hair follicle stem cells
  Chen JK, Wiedemann J, Nguyen L, Lin Z, Tahir M, Hui C-C, Plikus MV, Andersen B#
  Stem Cell Reports 2023, j.stemcr.2023.03.013

• Convergent deployment of ancestral functions during the evolution of mammalian flight membranes
  Feigin CY, Moreno JA, Ramos R, Mereby SA, Alivisatos A, Wang W, Amerongen A, Camacho J, Rasweiler IV JJ, Behringer RR, Ostrow B, Plikus MV, Mallarino R#
  Science Advances 2023, eade751

• Screening cell-cell communication in spatial transcriptomics via collective optimal transport
  Cang Z, Zhao Y, Almet AA, Stabell A, Ramos R, Plikus MV, Atwood SX, Nie Q#
  Nature Methods 2023, s41592-022-01728-4

2022

• Wound-induced hair neogenesis model
  Xue Y, Lim CH, Plikus MV, Ito M, Cotsarelis G, Garza LA#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2022, 142: 2565-9

• Engineering immunomodulatory biomaterials to drive skin wounds toward regenerative healing
  Butenko S, Miwa H, Liu Y, Plikus MV, Scumpia PO, Liu WF#
  CSH Perspectives in Biology 2022

• Identifying the E2F3-MEX3A-KLF4 signaling axis that sustains cancer cells in undifferentiated and proliferative state
  Yang X, Li G, Tian Y, Wang X, Xu J, Liu R, Deng M, Shao C, Pan Y, Wu Xi, Li M, Zhang C, Liu R, Qin J, Zhang C, Liu Z, Wu X, Plikus MV, Lengner CJ, Zheng Z, Lv C, Yu Z#
  Theranostics 2022

• Hedgehog signaling reprograms hair follicle niche fibroblasts to a hyper-activated state
  Liu Y*, Guerrero-Juarez CF*, Xiao F, Shettigar NU, Ramos R, Kuan CH, Lin YC, Lomeli LdJM, Park JM, Oh JW, Liu R, Lin SJ, Tartaglia M, Yang RB, Yu Z, Nie Q, Li J#, Plikus MV#
  Developmental Cell 2022, j.devcel.2022.06.005

                    UCI News: UCI-led team discovers signaling molecule that potently stimulates hair growth
                    ABC7: UCI scientists make hair-raising discovery that could prevent baldness
                    ABC7: UCI professor breaks down new study on hair growth
                    NBC Los Angeles: One molecule may be the key to whether or not you lose your hair, UCI study finds
                    Spectrum News TV: UC Irvine scientists discover a possible cure for baldness
                    WOSU Public Media Radio: All Sides with Ann Fisher: Wellness Wednesday
                    TODAY: Cure for baldness? Breakthrough study may pave the way for new treatment
                    WIRED: This Follicle-Hacking Drug Could One Day Treat Baldness
                    Orange County Register: Will baldness soon be a thing of the past?
                    dot.LA: Southern California Grows Roots as Potential Hotspot For Hair Loss Therapies
                    Additional news coverage by Gizmodo, Futuruty, Daily Express, Orange County Business Journal, 7News (Australia)

• Keratinocytes cut corners on the cell cycle for the sake of skin barrier integrity
  Hou R, Kim JE, Plikus MV#
  Developmental Cell 2022, 57(12): P1437-1438

• Diet-Induced Obesity Disrupts Histamine-Dependent Oleoylethanolamide Signaling in the Mouse Liver
  Lin L, Tagne AM, Squire EN, Lee HL, Fotio Y, Ramirez J, Zheng M, Torrens A, Ahmed F, Ramos R, Plikus MV, Daniele Piomelli#
  Pharmacology 2022, 000524753

• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions Between Hair Follicles and Dermal Adipose Tissue
  Ramos R, Plikus MV#
  Book: Hair Follicle Regeneration 2022, Humana Press

• Lepr+ mesenchymal cells sense diet to modulate intestinal stem/progenitor cells via Leptin–Igf1 axis
  Deng M*, Guerrero-Juarez CF*, Sheng X, Xu J, Wu X, Yao K, Li M, Yang X, Li G, Xiao J, Liu X, Wu K, Ren F, Nie Q, Plikus MV, Yu Z#, Lv C#
  Cell Research 2022, s41422-022-00643-9

• Dormant Nfatc1 reporter-marked basal stem/progenitor cells contribute to mammary lobuloalveoli formation
  Liu R, Hu H, McNeil M, Xu J, Bi X, Lou P, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Dai X, Plikus MV, Shuai J, Yu Z#, Lv C#
  iScience 2022, j.isci.2022.103982

• Altered epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity as a result of Ovol2 deletion minimally impacts the self-renewal of Adult mammary basal epithelial cells
  Sun P, Han Y, Plikus MV, Dai X#
  J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2022, s10911-021-09508-0

2021

• Fibroblasts feel evolutionary pressure to regenerate
  Hou R, Astrowski AA, Plikus MV#
  Developmental Cell 2021, 56(19): 2685-7

• GRHL3 activates FSCN1 to relax cell-cell adhesions between migrating keratinocytes during wound reepithelialization
  Kashgari G, Venkatesh S, Refuerzo S, Pham B, Bayat A, Klein RH, Ramos R, Ta AP, Plikus MV, Wang PH, Andersen B#
  JCI Insight 2021, 6(17): 142577

• Fibroblasts: origins, definitions, and functions in health and disease
  Plikus MV#, Wang X*, Sinha S*, Forte E*, Thompson SM*, Herzog EL#, Driskell RR#, Rosenthal N#, Biernaskie J#, Horsley V#
  Cell 2021, 184(15): 3852-3872

• Msi1 promotes breast cancer metastasis by regulating invadopodia-mediated extracellular matrix degradation via the Timp3–Mmp9 pathway
  Bi C, Lou P, Song Y, Sheng X, Liu R, Deng M, Yang X, Li G, Yuan S, Zhang H, Jiao B, Zhang B, Xue L, Liu Z, Plikus MV, Ren F, Gao S, Zhao L#, Yu Z#
  Oncogene 2021

• Genomic and anatomical comparisons of skin support independent adaptation to life in water by cetaceans and hippos
  Springer MS*#, Guerrero-Juarez CF*, Huelsmann M, Collin M, Danil K, McGowen M, Oh JW, Ramos R, Hiller M#, Plikus MV#, Gatesy J#
  Current Biology 2021, J.CUB.2021.02.057

                    Related commentary: Evolution: How to evolve a thick skin
                    UCI News: How did hippo, whale and dolphin skin adapt to live in water? UCI study reveals evolutionary clues
                    News coverage by American Museum of Natural History, Nature World News, Earth.com

• Inference and analysis of cell-cell communication using CellChat
  Jin S, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Zhang L, Chang I, Ramos R, Kuan C-H, Myung P, Plikus MV#, Nie Q#
  Nature Communications 2021, 12: 1088

                      UCI News: UCI researchers eavesdrop on cellular conversations
                      LEO Foundation: Under the skin

• Fostering a healthy culture: Biological relevance of in vitro and ex vivo skin models
  Atwood SX#, Plikus MV#
  Experimental Dermatology 2021, EXD.14296

• Dermal adipose tissue secretes HGF to promote human hair growth and pigmentation
  Nicu C, O’Sullivan JDB, Ramos R, Timperi L, Lai T, Farjo N, Farjo B, Pople J, Bhogal R, Hardman JA, Plikus MV, Ansell DM, Paus R#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2021, S0022-202X(21)00008-7

• MiR-22 modulates brown adipocyte thermogenesis by synergistically activating the glycolytic and mTORC1 signaling pathways
  Lou P*, Bi X*, Tian Y*, Li G, Kang Q, Lv C, Song Y, Xu J, Sheng X, Yang X, Liu R, Meng Q, Ren F, Plikus MV, Liang B, Zhang B#, Guo H#, Yu Z#
  Theranostics 2021, 11(8): 3607-3623

• Diet-induced obesity promotes infection by impairment of the innate antimicrobial defense function of dermal adipocyte progenitors
  Zhang LJ#, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Chen SX, Zhang X, Yin M, Li F, Wu S, Chen J, Li M, Liu Y, Jiang SIB, Hata T, Plikus MV, Gallo RL#
  Science Translational Medicine 2021, 13(577): eabb5280

• More than just bricks and mortar: Fibroblasts and ECM in skin health and disease
  Plikus MV#, Krieg T#
  Experimental Dermatology 2021, 30: 4-9Special Issue: Skin fibroblasts and extracellular matrix
  

2020

• YAP-mediated mechanotransduction tunes the macrophage inflammatory response
  Meli VS, Atcha H, Veerasubramanian PK, Nagalla RR, Luu TU, Chen EY, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Yamaga K, Pandori W, Hsieh JY, Downing TL, Fruman DA, Lodoen MB, Plikus MV, Wang W, Liu WF#
  Science Advances 2020, 6(49): eabb8471

• Activating an adaptive immune response from a hydrogel scaffold imparts regenerative wound healing
  Griffin DR, Archang MM, Kuan C-H, Weaver WM, Weinstein JS, Feng AC, Ruccia A, Sideris E, Ragkousis V, Koh J, Plikus MV, Di Carlo D, Segura T#, Scumpia PO#
  Nature Materials 2020, s41563-020-00844-wCover image
  

                    News & Views: MAP-ing a way towards tissue repair
                    News coverage by UCLA Daily Bruin, Futurity, Materials Science News

• Moving on after trauma: fibroblasts thrive in the right environment
  Ramos R, Plikus MV#
  Cell Stem Cell 2020, 27(3): 349-351

• Cycling stem cells are radioresistant and regenerate the intestine
  Sheng X, Lin Z, Lv C, Shao C, Bi X, Deng M, Xu J, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Li M, Wu X, Zhao R, Yang X, Li G, Liu X, Wang Q, Nie Q, Cui W, Gao S, Zhang H, Liu Z, Cong Y, Plikus MV, Lengner CJ, Andersen A, Ren F#, Zhengquan Yu, Yu Z#
  Cell Reports 2020, 32(4): 107952

• The Msi1-mTOR pathway drives the pathogenesis of mammary and extramammary Paget’s disease
  Song Y*, Guerrero-Juarez CF*, Chen Z*, Tang Y, Ma X, Lv C, Bi X, Deng M, Bu L, Tian Y, Liu R, Zhao R, Xu J, Sheng X, Du S, Liu Y, Zhu Y, Shan S-J, Chen H-D, Zhao Y, Zhou G, Shuai J, Ren F, Xue L, Ying Z, Dai X, Lengner CJ, Andersen B, Plikus MV, Nie Q, Yu Z#
  Cell Research 2020, s41422-020-0334-5

• At the crossroads of 2 alopecias: Androgenetic alopecia pattern of hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata treated with oral Janus kinase inhibitors
  Yale K#, Pourang A, Plikus MV, Mesinkovska NA
  JAAD Case Reports 2020, 6(5): 444-6

• Phagocytosis of Wnt inhibitor SFRP4 by late wound macrophages drives chronic Wnt activity for fibrotic skin healing
  Gay D#, Ghinatti G, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Ferrer RA, Ferri F, Lim CH, Murakami S, Gault N, Barroca V, Rombeau I, Mauffrey P, Irbah L, Treffeisen E, Franz S, Boissonnas A, Combadière C, Ito M, Plikus MV, Romeo PH#
  Science Advances 2020, 6: eaay3704

• Secreted stromal protein ISLR promotes intestinal regeneration by suppressing epithelial Hippo signaling
  Xu J, Tang Y, Sheng X, Tian Y, Deng M, Du S, Lv C, Li G, Pan Y, Song Y, Lou P, Luo Y, Li Y, Zhang B, Chen Y, Liu Z, Cong Y, Plikus MV, Meng Q, Zhou Z, Yu Z#
  EMBO J 2020, EMBJ.2019103255

• Epithelial migration and non-adhesive periderm are required for digit separation during mammalian development
  Kashgari G, Meinecke L, Gordon W, Ruiz B, Yang J, Ma AL, Xie Y, Ho H, Plikus MV, Nie Q, Jester JV, Andersen B#
  Developmental Cell 2020, J.DEVCEL.2020.01.032

• A mucoadhesive-to-penetrating controllable delivery system for targeted anti-colorectal cancer therapy
  Zhao R, Du S, Liu Y, Lv C, Song Y, Zhang B, Li D, Gao S, Cui W, Plikus MV, Hou X, Wu K, Liu Z, Liu Z, Cong Y, Li Y, Yu Z#
  Theranostics 2020, THNO.40318

2019

• Getting ready for the next decade of Experimental Dermatology
  Plikus MV#, Paus R#
  Experimental Dermatology 2019, 28: 1199-1200

• Equal opportunities in stemness
  Nie Q#, Plikus MV#
  Nature Cell Biology 2019, s41556-019-0366-6

• Understanding skin morphogenesis across developmental, regenerative and evolutionary levels
  Plikus MV#, Chuong CM#
  Experimental Dermatology 2019, 28: 327-331Special Issue: Skin morphogenesis: Development, regeneration, and evolution
  

• A multiscale hybrid mathematical model of epidermal‐dermal interactions during skin wound healing
  Wang Y, Guerrero‐Juarez CF, Qiu Y, Du H, Chen W, Figueroa S, Plikus MV#, Nie Q#
  Experimental Dermatology 2019, 28: 493-502

• MicroRNA-31 reduces inflammatory signaling and promotes regeneration in colon epithelium, and delivery of mimics in microspheres reduces colitis in mice
  Tian Y, Xu J, Li Y, Zhao R, Du S, Lv C, Wu W, Liu R, Sheng X, Song Y, Bi X, Li G, Li M, Wu X, Lou P, You H, Cui W, Sun J, Shuai J, Ren F, Zhang B, Guo M, Hou X, Wu K, Xue L, Zhang H, Plikus MV, Cong Y, Lengner CJ, Liu Z, Yu Z
  Gastroenterology 2019, pii: S0016-5085(19)30396-8

• Single-cell analysis reveals fibroblast heterogeneity and myeloid-derived adipocyte progenitors in murine skin wounds
  Guerrero-Juarez CF, Dedhia PH, Jin S, Ruiz-Vega R, Ma D, Liu Y, Yamaga K, Shestova O, Gay DL, Yang Z, Kessenbrock K, Nie Q, Pear WS, Cotsarelis G#, Plikus MV#
  Nature Communications 2019, s41467-018-08247-x

                    NSF: Scar-free wound-healing? Mathematics is helping make that a reality
                    UCI News: UCI-Led Study Reveals How Blood Cells Help Wounds Heal Scar-Free
                    News coverage by University of California
                    Highlight by National Science Foundation

2018

• Age-related loss of innate immune antimicrobial function of dermal fat is mediated by transforming growth factor beta
  Zhang LJ, Chen SX, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Li F, Tong Y, Liang Y, Liggins M, Chen X, Chen H, Li M, Hata T, Zheng Y, Plikus MV, Gallo RL
  Immunity 2018, 50: 121-136.e5

• Hedgehog stimulates hair follicle neogenesis by creating inductive dermis during murine skin wound healing
  Lim CH, Sun Q, Ratti K, Lee SH, Zheng Y, Takeo M, Lee W, Rabbani P, Plikus MV, Cain JE, Wang DH, Watkins DN, Millar S, Taketo MM, Myung P, Cotsarelis G, Ito M
  Nature Communications 2018, s41467-018-07142-9

• Skin as a window to body-clock time
  Plikus MV#, Andersen B#
  PNAS 2018, pii: 201817419

• An Ovol2‐Zeb1 transcriptional circuit regulates epithelial directional migration and proliferation
  Haensel D, Sun P, MacLean AL, Ma X, Zhou Y, Stemmler MP, Brabletz S, Berx G, Plikus MV, Nie Q, Brabletz T, Dai X
  EMBO Reports 2018, e46273

• High-resolution infrared imaging of biological samples with third-order sum-frequency generation microscopy
  Hanninen AM, Prince RC, Ramos R, Plikus MV, Potma EO
  Biomed Opt Express 2018, 9: 4807-4817

• External light activates hair follicle stem cells through eyes via an ipRGC–SCN–sympathetic neural pathway
  Fan SM-Y, Chang Y-T, Chen C-L, Wang W-H, Pan M-K, Chen W-P, Huang W-Y, Xu Z, Huang H-E, Chen T, Plikus MV, Chen S-K, Lin S-J
  PNAS 2018, PNAS.1719548115

• MiR-31 mediates inflammatory signaling to promote re-epithelialization during skin wound healing
  Shi J, Ma X, Su Y, Song Y, Tian Y, Yuan S, Zhang X, Yang D, Zhang H, Shuai J, Cui W, Ren F, Plikus MV, Yaoxing Chen, Luo J, Yu Z
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2018, JID.2018.03.1521

• Msx2 supports epidermal competency during wound induced hair follicle neogenesis
  Hughes MW, Jiang TX, Plikus MV, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Lin CH, Schafer C, Maxson R, Widelitz RB, Chuong CM
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2018, JID.2018.02.043

• Inducing hair follicle neogenesis with secreted proteins enriched in embryonic skin
  Fan SMY, Tsai CF, Yen CM, Lin MH, Wang WH, Chan CC, Chen CL, Phua KKL, Pan SH, Plikus MV, Yu SL, Chen YJ, Lin SJ
  Biomaterials 2018, J.biomaterials.2018.03.003

• Emerging nonmetabolic functions of skin fat
  Guerrero-Juarez CF, Plikus MV#
  Nature Reviews Endocrinology 2018, Nrendo.2017.162

• Pharmacological activation of REV-ERBs is lethal in cancer and oncogene-induced senescence
  Sulli G, Rommel A, Wang X, Kolar MJ, Puca F, Saghatelian A, Plikus MV, Verma IM, Panda S
  Nature 2018, Nature25170

• Anatomical, physiological, and functional diversity of adipose tissue
  Zwick RK*, Guerrero-Juarez CF*, Horsley V#, Plikus MV#
  Cell Metabolism 2018, 27:68–83

• Wound regeneration deficit in rats correlates with low morphogenetic potential and distinct transcriptome profile of epidermis
  Guerrero-Juarez CF, Astrowski AA, Murad R, Dang CT, Shatrova VO, Astrowskaja A, Lim CH, Ramos R, Wang X, Liu Y, Lee HL, Pham KT, Hsi TC, Oh JW, Crocker D, Mortazavi A, Ito M, Plikus MV#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2018, JID.2017.12.030

2017

• MiR-31 promotes mammary stem cell expansion and breast tumorigenesis by suppressing Wnt signaling antagonists
  Lv C, Li F, Li X, Tian Y, Zhang Y, Sheng X, Song Y, Meng Q, Yuan S, Luan L, Andl T, Feng X, Jiao B, Xu M, Plikus MV, Dai X, Lengner C, Cui W, Ren F, Shuai J, Millar SE, Yu Z
  Nature Communications 2017, s41467-017-01059-5

• Mobilizing transit-amplifying cell-derived ectopic progenitors prevents hair loss from chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  Huang WY, Lai SF, Chiu HY, Chang M, Plikus MV, Chan CC, Chen YT, Tsao PN, Yang TL, Lee HS, Chi P, Lin SJ
  Cancer Research 2017, 0008-5472.CAN-17-0667

• Stress responsive miR-31 is a major modulator of mouse intestinal stem cells during regeneration and tumorigenesis
  Tian Y, Ma X, L Cong, Sheng X, Li X, Zhao R, Song Y, Andl T, Plikus MV, Sun J, Ren F, Shuai J, Lengner CJ, Cui W, Yu Z
  eLife 2017, eLife.29538

• A multi-scale model for hair follicles reveals heterogeneous domains driving rapid spatiotemporal hair growth patterning
  Wang Q*, Oh JW*, Lee HL, Dhar A, Peng T, Ramos R, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Wang X, Zhao R, Cao X, Le J, Fuentes MA, Jocoy SC, Rossi AR, Vu B, Pham K, Wang X, Mali NM, Park JM, Choi JH, Lee H, Legrand J, Kandyba E, Kim JC, Kim M, Foley J, Yu Z, Kobielak K, Andersen B, Khosrotehrani K, Nie Q#, Plikus MV#
  eLife 2017, eLife.22772

                    eLife Insight: Tissue Regeneration: Regional differences
                    PEW Analysis: The Mystery of Hair Growth, Untangled
                    UCI News: UCI study sheds light on regulation of hair growth across the entire body
                    News coverage by University of California
                    Related press coverage in New Scientist, Medical News Today, Laboratory Equipment Magazine, Esquire, OC Register, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Birmingham Mail

• Gli-fully halting the progression of fibrosis
  Guerrero-Juarez CF, Plikus MV#
  Cell Stem Cell 2017, 20: 735-736

• Estrogen modulates mesenchymal-epidermal interactions in the adult nipple
  Wu HJ, Oh JW, Spandau DF, Tholpady S, Diaz J, Schroeder LJ, Offutt CD, Glick AB, Plikus MV, Koyama S, Foley J
  Development 2017, 144: 1498-1509

• Msi2 maintains quiescent state of hair follicle stem cells by directly repressing the Hh signaling pathway
  Ma X, Tian Y, Song Y, Shi J, Xu J, Xiong K, Li J, Xu W, Zhao Y, Shuai J, Chen L, Plikus MV, Lengner C, Ren F, Xue L, Yu Z
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2017, 137: 1015-1024

• Regeneration of fat cells from myofibroblasts during wound healing
  Plikus MV#, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Ito M, Li YR, Dedhia PH, Zheng Y, Shao M, Gay DL, Ramos R, Hsi TC, Oh JW, Wang X, Ramirez A, Konopelski SE, Elzein A, Wang A, Supapannachart RJ, Lee HL, Lim CH, Nace A, Guo A, Treffeisen E, Andl T, Ramirez RN, Murad R, Offermanns S, Metzger D, Chambon P, Widgerow AD, Tuan TL, Mortazavi A, Gupta RK, Hamilton BA, Millar SE, Seale P, Pear WS, Lazar MA, Cotsarelis G#
  Science 2017, 355: 748-752

                     Perspective: Fibroblasts become fat to reduce scarring
                     Perspective: Repeal and replace: adipocyte regeneration in wound repair
                     UCI News: Study reveals natural process for scar-free wound healing
                     Related press coverage in Popular Mechanics, Scientific American, Business Insider, The Times, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Yahoo! Beauty, OC Register, Skin Inc.

2016

• Near equilibrium calculus of stem cells in application to the airway epithelium lineage
  Sun Z, Plikus MV, Komarova NL
  PLoS Comput Biol 2015, 12: e1004990

2015

• The role of symmetric stem cell divisions in tissue homeostasis
  Yang J, Plikus MV, Komarova NL
  PLoS Comput Biol 2015, 11: e1004629

                     PLoS Editor’s pick: Stem Cell Research

• Evidence for the involvement of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 in lipofibroblast formation during embryonic lung development
  Al Alam D, Agha EE, Sakurai R, Kheirollahi V, Moiseenko A, Danopoulos S, Shrestha A, Schmoldt C, Quantius J, Herold S, Chao CM, Tiozzo C, Langhe SD, Plikus MV, Thornton M, Grubbs B, Minoo P, Rehan V, Bellusci S
  Development 2015, 142: 4139-4150

• A guide to studying human hair follicle cycling in vivo
  Oh JW, Kloepper J, Langan EA, Kim Y, Yeo J, Kim MJ, Hsi TC, Rose C, Yoon GS, Lee SJ, Seykora J, Kim JC, Sung YK, Kim M#, Paus R#, Plikus MV#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2015, 136: 34-44

                     Related commentary: Putting the Human Hair Follicle Cycle on the Map

• The emerging functions of regulatory RNA species in skin biology
  Beasley SM, Plikus MV, Spitale RC, Pedersen IM
  Experimental Dermatology 2015, 24: 827-828

• The modulatable stem cell niche: Tissue interactions during hair and feather follicle regeneration
  Chen CC, Plikus MV, Tang PC, Widelitz RB, Chuong CM
  Journal of Molecular Biology 2015, 428: 1423-1440

• Gene loss in keratinization programs accompanies adaptation of Cetacean skin to aquatic lifestyle
  Oh JW, Chung O, Cho YS, MacGregor GR, Plikus MV#
  Experimental Dermatology 2015, 24: 572-573

• Organ-level quorum sensing directs regeneration in hair stem cell populations
  Chen CC, Wang L, Plikus MV, Jiang TX, Murray PJ, Ramos R, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Hughes MW, Lee OK, Shi S, Widelitz RB, Lander AD, Chuong CM
  Cell 2015, 161: 277–290

• Principles and mechanisms of regeneration in the mouse model for wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis
  Wang X, Hsi TS, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Pham K, Cho K, McCusker CD, Monuki ES, Cho KWY, Gay DL, PlikusMV#
  Regeneration 2015, 2: 169-181

• The circadian clock in skin: implications for adult stem cells, tissue regeneration, cancer, aging, and immunity
  Plikus MV, Van Spyk EN, Pham K, Geyfman M, Kumar V, Takahashi JS, Andersen B
  Journal of Biological Rhythms 2015, 30: 163-182

• Regenerative metamorphosis in hairs and feathers: follicle as a programmable biological printer
  Oh JW, Lin SJ, Plikus MV#
  Experimental Dermatology 2015, 24: 262-264

• Dermal adipocytes protect against invasive Staphylococcus aureus skin infection
  Zhang LJ, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Hata T, Bapat SP, Ramos R, Plikus MV, Gallo RL
  Science 2015, 347: 67-71

            UCI News: Skin fat is a newly recognized part of the body’s immune response
           Orange County Register: Skin fat kills bacterial infections

2014

• Resting no more: re-defining telogen, the maintenance stage of the hair growth cycle
  Geyfman M, Plikus MV, Treffeisen E, Andersen B, Paus R
  Biological Reviews 2014, 90: 1179-1196

• Epigenetic control of skin and hair regeneration after wounding
  Plikus MV#, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Treffeisen E, Gay DL#
  Experimental Dermatology 2014, 24: 167-170

• CD133 expression correlates with membrane beta-catenin and e-cadherin loss from human hair follicle placodes during morphogenesis
  Gay D, Yang CC, Plikus MV, Ito M, Rivera C, Treffeisen E, Doherty L, Spata M, Millar SE, Cotsarelis G
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2014, 135: 45-55

• Light-emitting hair follicles: studying skin regeneration with in vivo imaging
  Guerrero-Juarez CF, Ramos R, Oh JW, Hsi TC, Plikus MV#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2014, 134: 1496-1498

• Deadly hairs, lethal feathers – convergent evolution of poisonous integument in mammals and birds
  Plikus MV#, Astrowski AA
  Experimental Dermatology 2014, 23: 466-468

• Regenerative hair waves in aging mice and extra-follicular modulators Follistatin, Dkk1 and Sfrp4
  Chen CC, Murray PJ, Jiang TX, Plikus MV, Chang YT, Lee OK, Widelitz RB, Chuong CM
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2014, 134: 2086-2096

• At the dawn of hair research – testing the limits of hair follicle regeneration
  Plikus MV#
  Experimental Dermatology 2014, 23: 314-315

• Macroenvironmental regulation of hair cycling and collective regenerative behavior
  Plikus MV, Chuong CM
  Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine 2014, 4: a015198Cover image
  

2013

• Organotypic skin culture
  Oh JW, Hsi TC, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Ramos R, Plikus MV#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2013, 133: e14

• Hair follicle signaling networks: a dermal papilla centric approach
  Ramos R, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Plikus MV#
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2013, 133: 2306-2308

• Local circadian clock gates cell cycle progression of transient amplifying cells during regenerative hair cycling
  Plikus MV, Vollmers C, De la Cruz D, Chaix A, Ramos R, Panda S, Chuong CM
  PNAS 2013, 10: E2106–E2115

            Allure Magazine: Hair Fallout
            Orange County Register: UCI In Focus: Researchers find timing is key for radiation treatment

• Fgf9 from dermal γδ T cells induces hair follicle neogenesis after wounding
  Gay D, Kwon O, Zhang Z, Spata M, Plikus MV, Holler PD, Ito M, Yang Z Treffeisen E, Kim CD, Nace A, Zhang X, Baratono S, Wang F, Ornitz DM, Millar SE, Cotsarelis G
  Nature Medicine 2013, 19: 916-923

2012 and earlier

• Epithelial stem cells and implications for wound repair
  Plikus MV, Gay DL, Treffeisen E, Wang A, Supapannachart RJ, Cotsarelis G
  Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 2012, 23: 946-953

• New activators and inhibitors in the hair cycle clock: targeting stem cells’ state of competence
  Plikus MV
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2012, 132: 1321-1324

• Self-organizing and stochastic behaviors during the regeneration of hair stem cells
  Plikus MV, Baker RE, Chen CC, Fare C, de la Cruz D, Andl T, Maini PK, Millar SE, Widelitz R, Chuong CM
  Science 2011, 332: 586-589

• Analyses of regenerative wave patterns in adult hair follicle populations reveal macro-environmental regulation of stem cell activity
  Plikus MV, Widelitz RB, Maxson R, Chuong CM
  International J of Developmental Biology 2009, 53: 857-868

• Cyclic dermal BMP signalling regulates stem cell activation during hair regeneration
  Plikus MV, Mayer JA, de la Cruz D, Baker RE, Maini PK, Maxson R, Chuong CM
  Nature 2008, 451: 340-344

• Complex hair cycle domain patterns and regenerative hair waves in living rodents
  Plikus MV and Chuong CM
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2008, 128: 1071-1080

• PubFocus: semantic MEDLINE/PubMed citations analytics through integration of controlled biomedical dictionaries and ranking algorithm
  Plikus MV#, Zhang Z, Chuong CM
  BMC Bioinformatics 2006, 7: 424

• Morphoregulation of teeth: modulating the number, size, shape and differentiation by tuning Bmp activity
  Plikus MV, Zeichner-David M, Mayer JA, Reyna J, Bringas P, Thewissen JG, Snead ML, Chai Y, Chuong CM
  Evolution and Development 2005, 7: 440-457

• Making waves with hairs
  Plikus MV and Chuong CM
  J of Investigative Dermatology 2004, 122: vii-ix

• Morpho-regulation of ectodermal organs: integument pathology and phenotypic variations in K14-Noggin engineered mice through modulation of bone morphogenic protein pathway
  Plikus MV, Wang WP, Liu J, Wang X, Jiang TX, Chuong CM
  American J of Pathology 2004, 164: 1099-1114

Book chapters

• Cutaneous Epithelial Stem Cells. In Principles of Tissue Engineering, 4th edition
  Gay D, Plikus MV, Treffeisen L, Wang A and Cotsarelis G
  Elsevier Academic Press 2013, 1581-1594

• Mouse Skin Ectodermal Organs. In The Mouse in Biomedical Research
  Plikus MV, Sundberg, JP and Chuong, CM
  Elsevier Academic Press 2006, 692-730