Deletion of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase 2 in FoxD1-Lineage Mesenchymal Cells Leads to Congenital Truncal Alopecia

The study investigated the role of hypoxia inducible factor prolyl-4 hydroxylase 2 (HIF-P4H-2) in Forkhead Box D1 (FoxD1) lineage cells in hair follicle and skin development. The researchers used a mouse line where Hif-p4h-2 is conditionally inactivated in FoxD1-expressing cells and studied it at different developmental stages. The results showed that the absence of Hif-p4h-2 in FoxD1-lineage mesodermal cells disrupts hair follicle development during the first catagen, leading to the formation of large epithelial lined hair follicle cysts filled with keratins, which eventually results in truncal alopecia. However, cranial hair remained normal. The study concluded that HIF-P4H-2 function in FoxD1-lineage cells is essential for the normal development and homeostasis of hair follicles.