Commensal Microbiome Promotes Hair Follicle Regeneration by Inducing Keratinocyte HIF-1α Signaling and Glutamine Metabolism

The study shows that the commensal microbiome promotes hair follicle regeneration by inducing keratinocyte HIF-1α signaling and enhancing glutamine metabolism. This metabolic shift improves the regenerative capacity of skin and hair follicles following injury. Using a wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) model in mice, researchers found a positive correlation between bacterial load, glutamine metabolism, and regeneration. In human skin wounds, topical broad-spectrum antibiotics inhibited glutamine production and reduced healing. The findings suggest that the skin microbiome's modulation of metabolism can significantly enhance stem cell tolerance to damage and improve regenerative outcomes in both mice and humans.