DNA Damage-Inducible Transcript 4 Is an Innate Surveillant of Hair Follicular Stress in Vitamin D Receptor Knockout Mice and a Regulator of Wound Re-Epithelialization

The study investigated the role of DNA Damage-Inducible Transcript 4 (Ddit4) in hair follicle stress and wound healing in Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) knockout mice. It found that Ddit4 was upregulated in response to hair follicle stress in VDR knockout mice, indicating its role as an innate surveillant. Additionally, Ddit4 was shown to be a significant regulator of wound re-epithelialization, with VDR-null mice exhibiting impaired wound healing and reduced Ddit4 expression. These findings highlighted the critical functions of Ddit4 in maintaining hair follicle integrity and promoting efficient wound healing in the absence of VDR, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for hair loss and impaired wound healing conditions.