The Negative Regulator CXXC5: Making WNT Look a Little Less Disheveled

In the 2017 study by Lee et al., it was discovered that CXXC-type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5) acts as a negative regulator of WNT/β-catenin signaling, which is important for hair follicle regeneration. The expression of CXXC5 was found to be inversely related to β-catenin in hair follicles and linked to hair loss. CXXC5 inhibits the activity of dermal papilla cells, essential for hair growth, by binding with Dishevelled (Dvl). Mice lacking CXXC5 showed improved hair regrowth, suggesting that CXXC5 impedes the transition from the resting to the growth phase of the hair cycle. Treatment with valproic acid and a peptide that blocks CXXC5-Dvl interaction both enhanced hair regrowth, indicating potential therapeutic approaches for treating hair loss. The study suggests that CXXC5 could be a target for hair loss treatment, but more research is necessary to understand its role and therapeutic potential fully.