The Rho GTPase Exchange Factor Vav2 Promotes Extensive Age-Dependent Rewiring of the Hair Follicle Stem Cell Transcriptome

The study examines the impact of Vav2, a Rho GTPase exchange factor, on the aging process of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in mice. It was discovered that a variant of Vav2, Vav2onc, causes extensive changes in the HFSC transcriptome, with 64.6% of genes in Vav2onc HFSCs being age-regulated compared to 31.9% in wild-type HFSCs. This includes the expression of genes not typically found in HFSCs, alterations in the timing of gene expression waves, and changes in gene regulation patterns. Vav2onc also influences the transcription factor landscape, particularly enriching transcription factors in quiescent and active HFSCs. The findings suggest that Vav2onc may enhance the regenerative potential of HFSCs in older mice, but also indicates a potential risk for cancer development if oncogenic mutations occur. The study concludes that Vav2onc significantly rewires the transcriptome of HFSCs, which could impact their function and regenerative capacity as they age. The specific number of mice used in the study was not provided in the summary.