To Grow or Not to Grow: Hair Morphogenesis and Human Genetic Hair Disorders

January 2014 in “ Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology ”

Olivier Duverger, María I. Morasso

TLDR Genetic mutations can cause hair growth disorders by affecting key genes and signaling pathways.

The document from 2014 reviews the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle development and the genetic disorders associated with hair growth abnormalities. It explains that hair disorders can be caused by mutations in genes responsible for transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways, and these mutations can lead to conditions such as atrichia, hypotrichosis, and structural hair defects. Specific genes like HOXC13, MBTPS2, SOX18, and those involved in the WNT signaling pathway and cell-cell adhesion are implicated in various hair disorders. The review also discusses the association of hair disorders with other clinical conditions and the importance of understanding these mechanisms for developing treatments. The work is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.

View this study on sciencedirect.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

11 / 11 results

research Position Effect on FGF13 Associated with X-Linked Congenital Generalized Hypertrichosis

44 citations , April 2013 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

FGF13 gene changes cause excessive hair growth in a rare condition.

research Hairy Tale of Signaling in Hair Follicle Development and Cycling

161 citations , October 2012 in “Seminars in cell & developmental biology”

Hair growth and development are controlled by specific signaling pathways.

research Mesenchymal–Epithelial Interactions During Hair Follicle Morphogenesis and Cycling

300 citations , October 2012 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology”

The conclusion is that certain cell interactions and signals are crucial for hair growth and regeneration.

research APCDD1 Is a Novel Wnt Inhibitor Mutated in Hereditary Hypotrichosis Simplex

199 citations , April 2010 in “Nature”

A gene called APCDD1, which controls hair growth, is found to be faulty in a type of hair loss called hereditary hypotrichosis simplex.

research Epidermal Patterning and Induction of Different Hair Types During Mouse Embryonic Development

81 citations , September 2009 in “Birth defects research”

Different body areas in mice produce different hair types due to interactions between skin layers.

research WNT10A Mutations Are a Frequent Cause of a Broad Spectrum of Ectodermal Dysplasias with Sex-Biased Manifestation Pattern in Heterozygotes

197 citations , July 2009 in “American journal of human genetics”

WNT10A mutations often cause ectodermal dysplasias, with males showing more tooth issues than females.

research Loss-Of-Function Mutations of an Inhibitory Upstream ORF in the Human Hairless Transcript Cause Marie Unna Hereditary Hypotrichosis

181 citations , January 2009 in “Nature Genetics”

Certain mutations in a hair growth-related gene cause a type of genetic hair loss.

research A Position Effect on TRPS1 Is Associated with Ambras Syndrome in Humans and the Koala Phenotype in Mice

60 citations , August 2008 in “Human molecular genetics online/Human molecular genetics”

A position effect on the TRPS1 gene causes excessive hair growth in humans and mice.

research Disruption of P2RY5, an Orphan G Protein–Coupled Receptor, Underlies Autosomal Recessive Woolly Hair

210 citations , February 2008 in “Nature genetics”

Mutations in the P2RY5 gene cause autosomal recessive woolly hair.

research Human Hair Growth Deficiency Is Linked to a Genetic Defect in the Phospholipase Gene LIPH

194 citations , November 2006 in “Science”

A genetic mutation in the LIPH gene causes hair loss and growth defects.

research Biology of the Hair Follicle: The Basics

224 citations , March 2006 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

The document concludes that understanding hair follicle biology can lead to better hair loss treatments.

6 / 6 results

research Hair Loss and Hirsutism Management

January 2019

Low-level light therapy, possibly combined with other treatments, may become a leading hair loss treatment, while hirsutism often worsens with age and lacks preventive options.

research Treatments of Hereditary Hair Loss (Alopecia)

April 2018

Some treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and surgery can help with hereditary hair loss.

research Congenital Hypotrichosis Due to Short Anagen Phase

42 citations , September 2000 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Some children are born with unusually short, fine hair because their hair growth phase is short, but this often gets better by itself during puberty.