Faculty Opinions recommendation of Competitive balance of intrabulge BMP/Wnt signaling reveals a robust gene network ruling stem cell homeostasis and cyclic activation.
TLDR A balance between BMP and Wnt signals is crucial for hair follicle stem cell function and hair growth.
The study by Kandyba et al. explored the interaction between BMP and Wnt signaling pathways in hair follicle (HF) stem cells, focusing on their role in stem cell homeostasis and activation. By inactivating BMP signaling in HF stem cells using a keratin 15 promoter, the researchers found that BMP-inhibited stem cells exhibited characteristics similar to hair germ cells but retained the ability to repopulate the HF and epidermis. These cells showed upregulation of Wnt signaling genes, such as Wnt7a, Wnt7b, Wnt16, and Frizzled 10. The study revealed that BMP signaling directly modulates the Wnt7a promoter, highlighting a complex interplay where reduced BMP or increased Wnt signaling activates the cells, while increased BMP signaling maintains them in a quiescent state. This research provided insights into the molecular mechanisms governing HF stem cell maintenance and activation, emphasizing the importance of BMP signaling in HF stem cell regulation.
