Epidermal Growth Factor Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Follicular Outer Root Sheath Cells via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

January 2016 in “ Cellular physiology and biochemistry ”

Haihua Zhang, Weixiao Nan, Shiyong Wang, Tietao Zhang, Huazhe Si, Fenghuan Yang, Guangyu Li

Epidermal Growth Factor EGF follicular outer root sheath cells ORS cells Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway hair growth hair regeneration Survivin Msx2 SGK3 XAV-939 Wnt signaling

Studysummary This study reports that EGF at specific concentrations promotes the proliferation and migration of hair follicle ORS cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro.

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The study concluded that Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) promoted the proliferation and migration of follicular outer root sheath (ORS) cells via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting EGF as a potential therapeutic agent for hair growth and regeneration. EGF at concentrations of 2-20 ng/ml significantly enhanced ORS growth, while higher concentrations inhibited it. EGF treatment increased ORS cell proliferation, migration, and upregulated follicle-regulatory genes such as Survivin, Msx2, and SGK3. Blocking the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with XAV-939 reduced these effects, highlighting the pathway's crucial role in hair follicle development and cycling.

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