Dermal Adipose Tissue Has High Plasticity And Undergoes Reversible Dedifferentiation In Mice

September 2019 in “ Journal of Clinical Investigation ”

Zhuzhen Zhang, Mengle Shao, Chelsea Hepler, Zhenzhen Zi, Shangang Zhao, Yu An, Yi Zhu, Alexandra L. Ghaben, Li Wang, Na Li, Toshiharu Onodera, Nolwenn Joffin, Clair Crewe, Qingzhang Zhu, Lavanya Vishvanath, Ashwani Kumar, Chao Xing, Qiong Wang, Laurent Gautron, Yingfeng Deng, Ruth Gordillo, Ilja L. Kruglikov, Christine M. Kusminski, Rana K. Gupta, Philipp E. Scherer

dermal adipose tissue dWAT dedifferentiation fibroblast-like cells adipocyte progenitor-like cells mature adipocytes hair follicle cycling wound healing skin homeostasis alopecia fibrosis single-cell RNA sequencing in vivo proliferation assays skin fat hair loss skin health

TLDR Dermal adipose tissue in mice can change and revert to help with skin health.

The study demonstrated that dermal adipose tissue (dWAT) in mice exhibited high plasticity, undergoing reversible dedifferentiation into fibroblast-like and adipocyte progenitor-like cells, which could then redifferentiate back into mature adipocytes. This plasticity was crucial for hair follicle cycling, wound healing, and skin homeostasis. The findings suggested that dWAT played a significant role in skin health and could be a potential target for therapeutic strategies in conditions like alopecia and fibrosis. The research was supported by various experiments, including single-cell RNA sequencing and in vivo proliferation assays, involving multiple groups of mice.

View this study on jci.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

13 / 13 results

research The Role of Immature and Mature Adipocytes in Hair Cycling

30 citations, December 2018 in “Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Both immature and mature fat cells are important for hair growth cycles, with immature cells promoting growth and mature cells possibly inhibiting it.

research Skin Aging as a Mechanical Phenomenon: The Main Weak Links

41 citations, May 2018 in “Nutrition and healthy aging”

Skin aging is largely due to differences in stiffness and elasticity between skin layers, leading to wrinkles.

research Emerging Nonmetabolic Functions of Skin Fat

65 citations, January 2018 in “Nature Reviews Endocrinology”

Skin fat has important roles in hair growth, skin repair, immune defense, and aging, and could be targeted for skin and hair treatments.

research Regeneration of Fat Cells from Myofibroblasts During Wound Healing

408 citations, January 2017 in “Science”

Some wound-healing cells can turn into fat cells around new hair growth in mice.

research Skin Adipocyte Stem Cell Self-Renewal Is Regulated by a PDGFA/AKT Signaling Axis

106 citations, October 2016 in “Cell Stem Cell”

PDGFA/AKT signaling is important for the growth and maintenance of certain skin fat cells.

research Hair Follicles’ Transit-Amplifying Cells Govern Concurrent Dermal Adipocyte Production Through Sonic Hedgehog

75 citations, October 2016 in “Genes & Development”

Cells in hair follicles help create fat cells in the skin by releasing a protein called Sonic Hedgehog.

research Dermal White Adipose Tissue: A New Component of the Thermogenic Response

92 citations, September 2015 in “Journal of Lipid Research”

Skin fat helps with body temperature control and has other active roles in health.

research Defining Dermal Adipose Tissue

218 citations, May 2014 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Skin fat cells help with skin balance, hair growth, and healing wounds.

research Epidermal Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Regulates Adipocyte Differentiation via Secretion of Adipogenic Factors

130 citations, March 2014 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

Epidermal Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls fat cell formation and hair growth.

research Adipocytes in Skin Health and Disease

77 citations, March 2014 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine”

Fat cells are important for healthy skin, hair growth, and healing, and changes in these cells can affect skin conditions and aging.

research Lipoatrophy and Severe Metabolic Disturbance in Mice with Fat-Specific Deletion of PPARγ

218 citations, October 2013 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

Mice lacking the PPARγ gene in their fat cells had almost no fat tissue, severe metabolic problems, and abnormal development of other fat-related tissues.

research Intradermal Adipocytes Mediate Fibroblast Recruitment During Skin Wound Healing

238 citations, March 2013 in “Development”

Fat cells help recruit healing cells and build skin structure during wound healing.

research Adipocyte Lineage Cells Contribute to the Skin Stem Cell Niche to Drive Hair Cycling

499 citations, September 2011 in “Cell”

Fat-related cells are important for initiating hair growth.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community The Big Fat Layer II

in Research/Science 26 upvotes 3 years ago

Hair loss treatment should target dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT) to restore hair follicles. Potential remedies include tocopherol (vitamin E), botox, rosiglitazone, niacin, kojyl cinnamate esters, and ADP355.

community The Big Fat Layer / Remedies: Cetirizine

in Treatment 12 upvotes 3 years ago

Treating hair loss with various remedies, such as Cetirizine and the Big3 complex (minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841), which have properties like adipogenic, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory. References to research studies are also included.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 3 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community My Theory Regarding a Cause and Cure for Androgenetic Alopecia

in Treatment 98 upvotes 4 years ago

Hair loss theory suggests imbalance between Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and Androgen Receptor (AR) activation. Proposed treatment includes upregulating VDR, downregulating AR, and improving mitochondrial health.

community My opinions on hair treatment right now and in future

in Treatment 22 upvotes 4 years ago

Finasteride, minoxidil, dermarolling, and topical antiandrogens are effective for hair regrowth. Future treatments may include CB0301 and hair cloning.

community Anyone Try Microneedling with Exosomes/AAPE?

in Microneedling 2 upvotes 2 years ago

User asks where to purchase exosomes/AAPE for microneedling hair loss treatment. Links to research on hair regeneration therapy, stem cell therapy, exosome therapy, and dermal exosomes provided.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Dermal Adipose Tissue Secretes HGF to Promote Human Hair Growth and Pigmentation

29 citations, January 2021 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Fat under the skin releases HGF which helps hair grow and gain color.

An Intrinsic Oscillation of Gene Networks Inside Hair Follicle Stem Cells: An Additional Layer That Can Modulate Hair Stem Cell Activities

research An Intrinsic Oscillation of Gene Networks Inside Hair Follicle Stem Cells: An Additional Layer That Can Modulate Hair Stem Cell Activities

23 citations, December 2020 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

Gene network oscillations inside hair stem cells are key for hair growth regulation and could help treat hair loss.

Dermal Adipocyte Lipolysis and Myofibroblast Conversion Are Required for Efficient Skin Repair