TLDR Rat dermal papilla cells have unique genes crucial for hair growth.
The study analyzed gene expression in rat dermal papilla (DEPA) cells, which are crucial for hair growth, by sequencing 5130 clones from a DEPA cDNA library. Results showed that 50% of the sequences had high similarity to known proteins, with 21% related to cell structure/motility and many encoding extracellular matrix proteins. Growth factor molecules were also prevalent. The remaining 50.7% of sequences had low similarity scores, indicating the presence of many novel molecules, including a new member of the CTGF family, the rat homologue of Elm1. This highlighted the molecular differences between DEPA cells and fibroblasts, emphasizing DEPA cells' unique role in hair follicle induction.
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