Activin B Stimulates Mouse Vibrissae Growth and Regulates Cell Proliferation and Cell Cycle Progression of Hair Matrix Cells through ERK Signaling

The study investigated the role of Activin B in mouse vibrissae follicle growth, revealing that 10 ng/mL Activin B accelerated vibrissae growth and promoted hair matrix cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. The research demonstrated that Activin B facilitated the transition of hair matrix cells from the G1/G0 phase to the S phase, enhancing cell cycle progression through the ERK–Cyclin D1 signaling pathway. These findings suggested that Activin B could stimulate vibrissae growth by modulating cell proliferation and cell cycle progression via ERK signaling.