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

The study investigated the roles of OVOL1 and OVOL2, genes encoding zinc finger transcription factors, in hair follicle differentiation and tumorigenesis. OVOL1 was found to be expressed in the inner root sheath of hair follicles, while OVOL2 was expressed in matrix cells, pilomatricoma, and pilomatrix carcinoma. OVOL1 negatively regulated OVOL2 expression, and ketoconazole, a hair growth stimulant, increased OVOL1 expression without affecting OVOL2. The findings suggested that the OVOL1-OVOL2 axis played a significant role in hair follicle differentiation and could serve as markers for diagnosing pilomatricoma and pilomatrix carcinoma.