Embryonic Hair Follicle Fate Change by Augmented Beta-Catenin Through Shh and Bmp Signaling

January 2009 in “ Development ”

Kentaro Suzuki, Yuji Yamaguchi, Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin, Kenichiro Mihara, Masashi Akiyama, Hiroshi Shimizu, Makoto M. Taketo, Naomi Nakagata, Tadasuke Tsukiyama, Terry P. Yamaguchi, Walter Birchmeier, Shigeaki Kato, Gen Yamada

β-catenin Shh Bmp hair follicle keratinocytes epidermal characteristics reaction-diffusion mechanism Sonic Hedgehog Bone Morphogenetic Protein

Studysummary This study concluded that Wnt/β-catenin signaling, through Shh and Bmp pathways, is crucial for determining hair follicle fate in embryonic epidermal development. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study explored the impact of augmented β-catenin on embryonic hair follicle fate, focusing on its interaction with Shh and Bmp signaling pathways. Using mutant mice with active β-catenin in keratinocytes, researchers observed changes in hair follicle fate, evidenced by scaly skin and altered epidermal characteristics. The study demonstrated that β-catenin signaling, through Shh and Bmp pathways, was crucial for hair follicle fate change. Mutations in these pathways suppressed the hair follicle fate switch, highlighting their regulatory role. The findings suggested that Shh was essential for hair follicle fate expansion, while Bmp acted as an inhibitor, indicating a reaction-diffusion mechanism in hair follicle patterning.

View this study on journals.biologists.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

13 / 13 results

research Activation of Beta-Catenin Signaling Programs Embryonic Epidermis to Hair Follicle Fate

193 citations , May 2008 in “Development”

This study found that activating β-catenin signaling in embryonic epidermis promoted hair follicle characteristics at the expense of normal epidermal differentiation, leading to early pigmentation and innervation.

research Skin and Hair: Models for Exploring Organ Regeneration

35 citations , April 2008 in “Human Molecular Genetics”

This review discusses advances in using molecular tools from skin biology to manipulate adult stem cells for regenerative medicine and reports no new clinical results.

research Scratching the Surface of Skin Development

788 citations , February 2007 in “Nature”

This review explores how adult skin epithelia preserve stem cell populations for hair follicle regeneration and wound healing, but reports no new experimental results.

research Molecular Principles of Hair Follicle Induction and Morphogenesis

479 citations , January 2005 in “BioEssays”

This review introduces the morphological and molecular principles of hair follicle development but reports no new experimental results, focusing on recent insights and forming a working hypothesis.

research Transient Activation of Beta-Catenin Signaling in Adult Mouse Epidermis Induces New Hair Follicles, Continuous Activation Maintains Tumors

335 citations , March 2004 in “Development”

This study found that continuous β-catenin signaling in adult mouse epidermis can reprogram hair follicles to form benign tumors, which regress after the signaling is discontinued.

research Integument Pattern Formation Involves Genetic and Epigenetic Controls: Feather Arrays Simulated by Digital Hormone Models

112 citations , January 2004 in “The International journal of developmental biology”

This study found that feather patterning is primarily self-organizing and dynamic, relying on both genetic and epigenetic controls, with implications for similar processes like fingerprints and pigmentation.

research Cyclic Alopecia in Msx2 Mutants: Defects in Hair Cycling and Hair Shaft Differentiation

158 citations , December 2002 in “Development”

In this study, Msx2-deficient mice showed progressive hair loss due to shortened anagen phase and prolonged catagen and telogen phases, resulting in cyclic alopecia with structurally abnormal hair shafts.

research Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Hair Follicle Development

854 citations , February 2002 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle formation and discusses potential future clinical applications for treating hair loss and skin tumors, but it reports no new clinical results.

research Tcf3 and Lef1 Regulate Lineage Differentiation of Multipotent Stem Cells in Skin

555 citations , July 2001 in “Genes & Development”

This study found that Tcf3 and Lef1 differently regulate cell differentiation in multipotent skin stem cells, with Tcf3 promoting follicle-like features and Lef1, when modified, promoting sebocyte differentiation.

research Whn and mHa3 Are Components of the Genetic Hierarchy Controlling Hair Follicle Differentiation

79 citations , December 1999 in “Mechanisms of Development”

Whn is crucial for hair growth in certain areas by controlling a specific gene.

research Splitting Hairs: Molecular Mechanisms of Hair and Feather Development

158 citations , November 1998 in “Cell”

β-catenin affects hair growth and can lead to tumors, needing more research for better understanding.

research The Secret Life of the Hair Follicle

745 citations , February 1992 in “Trends in genetics”

This article describes the potential role of various growth factors and molecules in regulating mammalian hair follicle development but does not present new experimental results.

Acidic and Basic Hair/Nail (Hard) Keratins: Their Colocalization in Upper Cortical and Cuticle Cells of the Human Hair Follicle and Their Relationship to Soft Keratins

research Acidic and Basic Hair/Nail (Hard) Keratins: Their Colocalization in Upper Cortical and Cuticle Cells of the Human Hair Follicle and Their Relationship to Soft Keratins

356 citations , December 1986 in “The journal of cell biology/The Journal of cell biology”

This study found that specific human hair keratins are differentially expressed in the hair follicle, suggesting a shared pathway of epithelial differentiation between hair cortex and nail plate cells.