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

The study investigated the role of epidermal Wnt/β-catenin signaling in adipocyte differentiation, finding that activation of this pathway in the epidermis led to the secretion of adipogenic factors, promoting the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. This process was independent of hair follicle formation and was demonstrated using K14Cre/CatnbFlox(ex3)/+ mice, which showed increased adipocyte presence and differentiation markers. The study identified key factors such as Igf2 and Bmp6 involved in this process and suggested that periodic activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in keratinocytes during the hair cycle could synchronize hair follicle growth and adipocyte layer thickness, offering potential therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic disorders.