Progressive Alopecia Reveals Decreasing Stem Cell Activation Probability During Aging of Mice with Epidermal Deletion of DNA Methyltransferase 1

September 2012 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Li Ji, Ting Jiang, Michael W. Hughes, Guangshuai Zhang, Juehua Yu, Randall B. Widelitz, Guoping Fan, Cheng Ming Chuong

alopecia stem cell activation DNA methyltransferase 1 DNMT1 epigenetic modulation hair follicle regeneration telogen phase sebaceous glands epidermal thickness hair loss stem cells epigenetics hair growth cycle skin glands

TLDR Aging reduces stem cell activation, leading to hair loss in mice lacking a specific enzyme.

The study investigated the effects of epigenetic modulation on hair follicle regeneration by creating mice with a K14-Cre-mediated loss of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). These mutant mice exhibited uneven epidermal thickness and changes in hair follicle size, although the architecture and differentiation of hair follicles appeared normal. Despite normal hair numbers at birth, the hair count decreased to less than 50% of the control group by the age of 1 year. The study found that older mutant mice had hair follicles in prolonged telogen phase and hyperplastic sebaceous glands, indicating a decrease in stem cell activation probability with aging.

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