Characterization and Chromosomal Localization of Human Hair-Specific Keratin Genes and Comparative Expression During the Hair Growth Cycle
February 1998
in “
The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology
”
type II hair-specific keratin genes ghHb1 ghHb6 chromosome 12q13 hair growth cycle type I partner ghHa1 differentiating hair cortical cells anagen phase basal epidermal keratin hK14 regressing matrix anagen to telogen transition downregulation of hair cortical specific keratins epithelial sac hair-specific keratin genes hair growth cycle hair cortical cells anagen phase basal epidermal keratin regressing matrix anagen to telogen transition hair cortical keratins epithelial sac
TLDR Two specific hair keratin genes are active during hair growth and decline as hair transitions to rest.
The study characterized and localized two type II hair-specific keratin genes, ghHb1 and ghHb6, on chromosome 12q13, and examined their expression patterns during the hair growth cycle. These genes, along with their type I partner ghHa1, were expressed in differentiating hair cortical cells during the anagen phase. In cultured follicles, ghHa1 expression declined after 6 days, while the basal epidermal keratin hK14 appeared in the regressing matrix. The transition from anagen to telogen involved downregulation of hair cortical specific keratins and the appearance of hK14 in the epithelial sac. The findings provided insights into the cyclical molecular changes in hair follicle growth, regression, and rest.