Alex de la Iglesia: "Todos somos perversos"

The document discussed the role of the bcl-2 family of proto-oncogenes in hair follicle (HF) morphogenesis and cycling, focusing on their involvement in apoptosis control. Bcl-2, an apoptosis inhibitor, and Bax, an apoptosis promoter, exhibited hair cycle-dependent expression patterns. In Bcl-2 null mice, increased melanocyte apoptosis led to hypopigmentation and delayed anagen development. Transgenic mice overexpressing Bcl-2 under different promoters showed varied effects, such as epidermal hyperplasia and accelerated catagen progression, which resulted in increased chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, HF dystrophy, and alopecia. The study highlighted the complex role of Bcl-2 in HF growth and pigmentation, suggesting further research using Bcl-2 transgenic and null mice.