Aberrant Wnt Signaling Induces Comedo-Like Changes in the Upper Hair Follicle
October 2020
in “
Research Square (Research Square)
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New to retinoic acid? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study found that abnormal Wnt signalling in stem cells may contribute to blackhead formation in acne by inhibiting cell differentiation and causing cell accumulation in the junctional zone.
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The study, conducted 3 years ago, explored the role of Wnt signalling in the formation of comedonal acne, a skin disease characterized by cystic dilation of the hair follicle junctional zone. The researchers used an Lrig1-CreERT2 mouse line to modulate Wnt signalling in stem cells of the junctional zone. They found that persistent activation of Wnt signalling led to the formation of comedone-like cysts with associated atrophic sebaceous glands. These cysts strongly expressed stem cell markers and could be partially reduced by treatment with all-trans retinoic acid, a well-established acne treatment, and by inhibition of Hedgehog signalling. Conversely, loss of Wnt signalling led to enlargement of the junctional zone, infundibulum, and sebaceous glands. The data suggested that abnormal Wnt signalling could be involved in acne pathogenesis by inhibiting differentiation and retaining junctional zone cells in a proliferative progenitor state, leading to their accumulation into comedones.
