Mapping the Expression of Epithelial Hair Follicle Stem Cell-Related Transcription Factors LHX2 and SOX9 in the Human Hair Follicle

The study mapped the expression of transcription factors LHX2 and SOX9 in human hair follicles to understand their roles in epithelial hair follicle stem cells. It found that LHX2 and SOX9 were predominantly expressed outside the bulge region, particularly in the sub-bulge and proximal bulb outer root sheath (pbORS). LHX2+ cells were more numerous and showed higher fluorescence intensity in the pbORS, while SOX9+ cells were most abundant in the sub-bulge region. These findings suggested distinct expression patterns and potential roles in the regulation and differentiation of stem cells outside the bulge area. The study, conducted on hair follicles from three patients, provided insights into the functional roles of these transcription factors in hair follicle biology and suggested implications for clinical applications like wound repair.