Activation of the OVOL1-OVOL2 Axis in the Hair Bulb and Pilomatricoma

The study investigated the roles of the genes OVOL1 and OVOL2 in hair follicle differentiation and pilomatricoma, a skin tumor. Researchers found differential expression of these genes in the hair bulb, with OVOL1 mainly in the inner root sheath and OVOL2 in the matrix cells. In pilomatricoma, OVOL2 was strongly expressed, while OVOL1 was partially expressed. Knocking down OVOL1 in human keratinocytes increased OVOL2 expression, and ketoconazole, a hair growth stimulant, upregulated OVOL1 but not OVOL2. These results suggest the OVOL1-OVOL2 axis plays a role in cell differentiation and proliferation in the hair bulb and may be involved in pilomatricoma tumorigenesis, indicating potential as therapeutic targets for hair disorders. The study examined 12 pilomatricoma, 1 pilomatrix carcinoma, and 5 normal skin samples.