Activation of β-catenin signaling programs embryonic epidermis to hair follicle fate

The study demonstrated that activation of β-catenin signaling in adult mouse skin led to the formation of ectopic hair follicles, indicating that β-catenin plays a crucial role in hair follicle development. By inducing a stabilizing β-catenin mutation, researchers observed increased hair growth and the formation of new hair follicles in mutant mice compared to controls. The study used a genetic model involving Krt5-rtTA tetO-Cre Ctnnb1(Ex3)fl/+ mice treated with doxycycline, which resulted in densely packed, irregularly spaced hair follicles in an abnormal growth phase. The findings suggested that β-catenin signaling could reprogram epidermal cells to adopt a hair follicle fate, even in typically hairless regions like footpad skin.