Hairless-Knockout Piglets Generated Using CRISPR/Cas9 Exhibit Abnormalities in Skin and Thymus

In a study from 2019, researchers successfully knocked out the Hairless (HR) gene in pigs using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to create a model for studying human hair disorders. Nine piglets were generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer, all exhibiting hairlessness on the eyelids, thymus abnormalities, and changes in peripheral blood. Additionally, there were altered expressions of signaling factors regulated by HR. These findings confirmed that the biallelic mutation of the HR gene led to molecular and structural changes in the skin and thymus, suggesting that these HR gene knockout pigs could serve as a valuable model for understanding human hair disorders and developing therapeutic strategies.