Co-Factors of LIM Domains (Clims/Ldb/Nli) Regulate Corneal Homeostasis and Maintenance of Hair Follicle Stem Cells

The study demonstrated that co-factors of LIM domains (Clims/Ldb/Nli) were essential for maintaining corneal homeostasis and hair follicle stem cells. Using K14-DN-Clim transgenic mice, researchers found that disruption of these co-factors led to significant abnormalities, including defective hemidesmosomes in the cornea, resulting in adhesion defects and an epidermis-like transformation. In hair follicles, the disruption caused progressive hair loss, cyst formation, and enlarged sebaceous glands due to a reduction in hair follicle stem cells. The findings suggested that Clims, through interactions with LIM homeodomain factors like Lhx2, are crucial for the maintenance of stem cell properties in both corneal and hair follicle tissues, indicating potential therapeutic targets for related disorders.