Cholesterol Homeostasis in Hair Follicle Keratinocytes Is Disrupted by Impaired ABCA5 Activity

    Megan A. Palmer, Irundika H.K. Dias, Eleanor Smart, Yvonne Benatzy, Iain S. Haslam
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    TLDR Impaired ABCA5 activity disrupts cholesterol balance in hair follicle cells, affecting hair growth.
    The study "Cholesterol homeostasis in hair follicle keratinocytes is disrupted by impaired ABCA5 activity" investigates the role of ABCA5, a member of the ABC transporter family, in cholesterol transport and homeostasis in outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes of hair follicles. The researchers found that ABCA5 protein localization can be modulated by changes in cellular cholesterol levels, which also altered intracellular co-localization to endo-lysosomes, ER, and mitochondria. Using siRNA-mediated knockdown, ABCA5 was implicated in the maintenance of cholesterol. This study provides deeper insight into the potential roles of ABCA5 in cholesterol transport and homeostasis in ORS keratinocytes, which is important for normal hair follicle morphogenesis, growth, and cycling. Disruption of cholesterol homeostasis may have a profound impact on hair follicle biology, which could explain the link between ABCA5 mutation and hypertrichosis, a condition characterized by excessive hair growth.
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