Epigenomic profiling of stem cells within the pilosebaceous unit identifies PRDM16 as a regulator of sebaceous gland homeostasis

The epidermis consists of different compartments such as the hair follicle (HF), sebaceous gland (SG) and interfollicular epidermis (IFE), each containing distinct stem cell (SC) populations. However, with the exception of the SCs residing within the HF bulge, other epidermal SC populations remain less well understood. Here we used an epigenomic strategy that combines H3K27me3 ChIP-seq and RNA-seq profiling to identify major regulators of pilosebaceous unit (PSU) SC located outside the bulge. When applied to the bulk of PSU SC isolated from mouse skin our approach identified both previously known and potentially novel non-bulge PSU SC regulators. Among the latter, we found that PRDM16 was predominantly enriched within the Junctional Zone (JZ), which harbors SC that contribute to renewal of the upper HF and the SG. To investigate PRDM16 function in the PSU SC, we generated an epidermal-specific Prdm16 Knock-out mouse model (K14-Cre-Prdm16fl/fl). Notably, SG homeostasis was disturbed upon loss of PRDM16 resulting in enlarged SGs, and excessive sebum production, resembling some of the features associated with human acne and sebaceous hyperplasia. Importantly, PRDM16 is essential to shut down proliferation in differentiating sebocytes. Overall, our study provides a list of putative novel regulators of PSU SC outside the bulge and identifies PRDM16 as a major regulator of SG homeostasis.