Follistatin and Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 1, OVOL1-Regulated Genes, Are Important for Hair Follicle Neogenesis

The study from May 4, 2015, demonstrated that genes regulated by OVOL1, particularly follistatin (Fst) and secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), play a significant role in hair follicle neogenesis. By overexpressing OVOL1 in neonatal mouse dermal cells, researchers observed an increase in Fst and SFRP1 expression. Conversely, knocking down these genes resulted in a reduced ability to induce hair follicles, with Fst and SFRP1 siRNA-transfected cells inducing significantly fewer hair follicles (170 ± 70 and 114 ± 55, respectively) compared to control cells (247 ± 12). These results indicate that Fst and SFRP1 are key for the hair-inducing capacity of dermal cells and are likely regulated by OVOL1, highlighting the importance of these genes in the development of new hair follicles.