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

The study investigates the role of skin-resident bacteria in promoting hair follicle regeneration through metabolic changes in keratinocytes. Using a model called Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Neogenesis (WIHN), researchers found that increased bacterial load correlates with enhanced glutamine metabolism and regeneration. Multi-omic analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing in murine skin revealed that bacterially-induced hypoxia boosts glutamine metabolism, aiding skin and hair follicle regeneration. In human skin wounds, broad-spectrum antibiotics were shown to inhibit glutamine production, reducing healing. These findings suggest that the skin microbiome plays a crucial role in enhancing stem cell tolerance to damage and improving regenerative capacity, offering new approaches to wound healing and reconsidering the use of cutaneous antimicrobials.