Epithelial Fibronectin Meshwork Controls Skin Regeneration

The study demonstrates that fibronectin (FN) is crucial for hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) activation and hair follicle regeneration. Conditional deletion of FN in HFSC compartments in mice led to impaired stem cell location and a blockade of hair regeneration. However, dermal injection of exogenous FN rescued these phenotypes, restoring hair growth. The research highlights the importance of FN-integrin signaling and the YAP/Taz pathway in maintaining HFSC identity and function. The study involved 13 mice in total, with significant findings showing FN's essential role in HFSC fate and regenerative capacity, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for hair loss and skin repair.