Genetically null mice reveal a central role for epidermal growth factor receptor in the differentiation of the hair follicle and normal hair development.

June 1997 in “ PubMed ”

Laura A. Hansen, Natalie Alexander, Margaret E. Hogan, John P. Sundberg, Andrzej A. Dlugosz, David W. Threadgill, Terry Magnuson, Stuart H. Yuspa

epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR hair follicle anagen telogen hair loss inflammation interfollicular epidermis hyperplasia epidermal proliferation EGFR hair follicle hair loss inflammation skin cell growth

TLDR EGFR is essential for normal hair development and follicle differentiation.

The study revealed that mice lacking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) had severely disorganized hair follicles, a fuzzy coat, and systemic disease causing death before 3 weeks. Grafted EGFR null skin showed hair follicles that could not transition from anagen to telogen, resulting in abnormal hair fibers and complete hair loss in 67% of grafts by 10 weeks due to inflammation. The absence of EGFR decreased proliferation in the interfollicular epidermis but caused persistent hyperplasia in grafted skin, underscoring EGFR's critical role in hair follicle differentiation, immune protection, and epidermal proliferation.