TLDR The Foxn1 gene is essential for normal nail and hair development.
Nude mice with a Foxn1(nu) mutation exhibited downregulation of hair keratins, leading to structurally weak hair fibers that break off. Their nails were deformed due to altered onychocyte differentiation, with decreased sulfur concentrations and lack of keratin 1 expression in the nail matrix. The differentiation process shifted towards an epidermis-like pattern, producing filaggrin-containing keratohyalin granules. The nail plates were thinner, weak, and prone to breaking. These findings highlighted the critical role of Foxn1 in normal onycholemmal differentiation and provided insights into the molecular controls of nail formation, offering a model for studying nail diseases.
62 citations
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January 2004 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” A second domain of high sulfur KAP genes on chromosome 21q23 is crucial for hair structure.
25 citations
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October 2000 in “Gene” Gene regulatory regions evolve faster than protein coding regions, allowing new gene relationships without changing transcription factors.
75 citations
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April 2000 in “Developmental Dynamics” Whn is essential for hair growth, and its malfunction causes hair loss.
119 citations
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January 2000 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Different parts of the nail express different keratins, showing unique patterns of differentiation.
27 citations
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January 2000 in “Developmental Dynamics” Mutations in the Whn gene affect hair keratin gene expression differently.
79 citations
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December 1999 in “Mechanisms of Development” 
69 citations
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August 1999 in “Developmental biology” The nude gene causes skin cell overgrowth and improper development, leading to hair and urinary issues.
28 citations
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June 1995 in “The Journal of Dermatology” The flaky skin mouse mutation is a natural model for studying human psoriasis.
86 citations
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October 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” The Foxn1 gene mutation causes hairlessness and immune system issues, and understanding it could lead to hair growth disorder treatments.
56 citations
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September 2010 in “Veterinary pathology” Certain mouse strains develop a skin condition similar to a human hair loss disease due to genetic defects.
1 citations
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April 2008 in “Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research” Foxn1 is essential for hair pigmentation by directing pigment transfer to hair cells.
30 citations
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October 2010 in “Biochemical and biophysical research communications” The Gsdma3 gene is essential for normal hair development in mice.
54 citations
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October 2007 in “The FASEB Journal” Phospholipase C-δ1 is crucial for normal hair development.
