Epidermal Dysplasia and Abnormal Hair Follicles in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Homeobox Gene MSX-2

The study examined the effects of overexpressing the homeobox gene MSX-2 in transgenic mice, which resulted in epidermal dysplasia and abnormal hair follicle development. The mice exhibited thickened skin with hyperkeratosis and flaky texture, particularly in certain body regions. Hair growth was impaired due to misaligned and shrunken hair follicles. Histological analysis showed increased cellularity and disrupted keratin expression, indicating a disturbance in the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. The findings suggested that MSX-2 played a crucial role in skin and hair follicle morphogenesis, affecting cell adhesion and growth control, with implications for understanding skin and hair development.