Activation of β-Catenin Signaling in CD133-Positive Dermal Papilla Cells Drives Postnatal Hair Growth

The study explored the effect of β-catenin signaling activation in CD133-positive dermal papilla (DP) cells on hair growth in mice. It was found that activating β-catenin in these cells significantly accelerated hair growth without affecting the regression phase of the hair cycle. The activation led to increased proliferation and differentiation of epithelial matrix keratinocytes and a larger population of proliferating DP cells. The research suggests that β-catenin signaling could be a potential therapeutic target for hair growth disorders. Although the study used a tri-transgenic mouse model, the specific number of mice used was not mentioned in the summary. The findings indicate that CD133+ DP cells contribute to hair growth after the onset of the anagen phase and that β-catenin signaling promotes hair follicle differentiation and growth during the early-to-mid anagen stages. However, the secreted factors involved in this process were not fully characterized and require further investigation.