TLDR Cells lacking the Bax protein can outcompete others, leading to better tissue repair and hair growth.
The study "Apoptotic dysregulation mediates stem cell competition and tissue regeneration" investigates the role of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The researchers found that Bax-depleted HFSCs resist apoptosis, proliferate more, and can eliminate healthy neighboring cells. This elimination is contact-dependent and involves the use of TNFα, which was found to be 6.5 times more expressed in Bax-depleted HFSCs. Bax depletion also leads to the activation of p65, necessary for TNFα mediated cell competition. In vivo experiments showed that Bax-depleted mice had increased hair follicle regeneration, accelerated wound repair, and hypertrophic morphology. The study concludes that Bax-mediated apoptotic dysregulation can alter tissue homeostasis and facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. The study involved 3 biological replicates for both wild type and Bax-depleted mice in each experiment.
9 citations,
November 2021 in “Current Opinion in Genetics & Development” Wounds can cause new hair growth in adult mice, influenced by Wnt signaling.
25 citations,
June 2021 in “Developmental Cell” Dying cells can help with faster healing and new hair growth by releasing a growth-promoting molecule.
61 citations,
December 2016 in “The EMBO Journal” The study showed that hair follicle stem cells can maintain and organize themselves in a lab setting, keeping their ability to renew and form hair and skin.
78 citations,
June 2013 in “Science” Mice without the Sept4/ARTS gene heal wounds better due to more stem cells that don't die easily.
6 citations,
February 2013 in “Journal of Visualized Experiments” The method quickly analyzes hair growth genes and shows that blocking Smo in skin cells stops hair growth.
829 citations,
May 2007 in “Nature” Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.
375 citations,
February 2006 in “Journal of Cell Science” The document concludes that the hair cycle is a complex process involving growth, regression, and rest phases, regulated by various molecular signals.
17 citations,
December 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Flightless I protein affects hair growth, with low levels delaying it and high levels increasing hair length in rodents.
