Welcome to the Sada Lab
Laboratory of Skin Regeneration and Aging
Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University
Tissue stem cells maintain tissue integrity during homeostasis and exhibit remarkable plasticity in response to stresses and injuries. A misregulation of stem cells leads to tissue dysfunction, such as impaired wound healing, chronic inflammation, tumorigenesis, and aging. Emerging evidence suggests that stem cell populations in adult tissues are heterogeneous and play distinct roles in physiological and pathological conditions.
Our research focuses on elucidating the cellular dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of tissue stem cells during skin regeneration, inflammation and aging processes. We have identified a novel stem cell population in mouse skin epidermis (Sada et al., Nat Cell Biol 2016) and established genetic tools and molecular markers to analyze these cells in vivo. Such stem cell proliferative heterogeneity is shown to be present not only in mouse skin, but also in the other epithelial tissues of the eye and oral mucosa, as well as in human skin. We are now combining cellular and molecular biology methods, mouse genetics, omics analysis, bioengineering, and glycobiology to analyze the function of biomolecules involved in skin stem cell regulation. Our research goal is to identify the drivers and effectors of stem cell dysfunction; targeting these factors will allow us to prevent and treat diseases at the stem cell level, with potential applications in regenerative therapies and future treatments for cancer, aging, and other skin diseases.
The Sada Laboratory is looking for motivated students (master's and doctoral level), post-doctoral fellows, and collaborators worldwide. If you are interested in pursuing research with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
WHAT'S NEW
PUBLICATION
2026.4.11
Thrilled to share that our new paper is now published in Aging Cell!
“Integrin-binding matricellular protein fibulin-5 maintains epidermal stem cell heterogeneity during skin aging”
https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.70483
In this study, we show that Fibulin-5 maintains epidermal stem cell heterogeneity during skin aging by linking the extracellular environment to YAP-dependent intracellular signaling. Its loss reduces YAP activity and depletes the fast-cycling epidermal stem cell population, recapitulating age-associated changes in skin.
This project was led by a PhD student, Wency, whose proactive efforts made this work possible. Congratulations!
PUBLICATION
2026.3.30
Thrilled to share that our new paper is now published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology!
Spatial organization of epithelial heterogeneity through undulating structures of the skin and oral mucosa
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2026.02.014
In this study, we demonstrate that undulating epithelial structures (rete ridges) act as a topographical niche that spatially organizes epithelial stem cell heterogeneity.
Huge thanks to Mizuho, Yen, and Ikuto for their wonderful work, and to all our collaborators. This study was made possible by interdisciplinary collaboration across stem cell biology, dentistry, engineering, and materials science.
PUBLICATION
2025.10.16
Thrilled to share that our new research article is now published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology!
Retinoic acid signaling alters the balance of epidermal stem cell populations in the skin
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2025.09.008
In this study, we show that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the active form of vitamin A, dynamically reshapes epidermal stem cell populations. These reversible changes reveal how retinoic acid signaling contributes to regulating stem cell heterogeneity and population balance in both mouse and human epidermis.
This work was led by PhD student Thisakorn, who conducted the research as a student at Kumamoto University and completed the revision after moving to Kyushu University.
Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she persevered with great patience and dedication, and we are very proud of this achievement — the first paper from our lab by a Kumamoto University student.
It was a wonderful collaboration with Dr. Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid, whose pioneering work on retinoic acid signaling in hematopoietic stem cells greatly inspired us. We are deeply grateful to the international research environment at IRCMS, which made this collaboration possible.
PUBLICATION
2025.10.8
Excited to share that our new review article is now online in Current Opinion in Cell Biology! New insights into signaling networks coordinating epidermal stem cell regulation in skin regeneration and aging
In this review, we discuss how metabolic, mechanical, and inflammatory signals coordinate epidermal stem cell behavior during homeostasis, regeneration, and aging, and how dysregulation of these pathways contributes to pathological skin remodeling.
Read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955067425001322