324 Keratinocytes form a self-organized pattern through adherens junctions

The epidermis is a spatially arranged tissue of different keratinocytes consisting stem cells, proliferating and differentiating cells. However, the mechanisms regulators arrangement remain unknown. Here, we show that serum starvation induces spontaneous pattern formation in keratinocytes.When were cultured beyond confluence, areas with densely clustered cells those sparsely distributed appeared alternately. This was triggered by but lifted supplementation fresh serum. Gene knockout experiments, inhibitor treatment, mathematical modeling revealed cell-cell adhesion through adherens junctions essential sufficient for formation. poised to differentiation, while prone proliferate. YAP signaling pathway modulated this switching between differentiation proliferation states sensing junctions. Finally, three-dimensional epidermal cultures, serum-deprived condition formed thicker than serum-rich condition. These data demonstrate starvation-induced underlies keratinocyte patterning helps stratification epidermis.