Development of Woolly Hair and Hairlessness in a CRISPR-Engineered Mutant Mouse Model with KRT71 Mutations

The study used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to create a mutant mouse model with a knockout of the Krt71 gene, which is associated with hair structure and growth. The Krt71-knockout mice exhibited symptoms of Hypotrichosis simplex and woolly hair, including the absence of Krt71 protein expression, curly hair, and complete hair shedding between 3-5 weeks of age. The knockout also affected the expression of other genes related to hair follicle development. The study found no significant differences in immune levels between the Krt71-knockout mice and the wild type controls. This mouse model could be a valuable tool for future research into hair disorders.