Hdac1 and Hdac2 Regulate the Quiescent State and Survival of Hair-Follicle Mesenchymal Niche

The study focuses on the role of Hdac1 and Hdac2 in maintaining the quiescent state and survival of the dermal papilla (DP), a mesenchymal niche within the hair follicle. The research demonstrates that Hdac1 and Hdac2 suppress cell-cycle gene expression to keep the DP cells quiescent during hair growth. Additionally, these enzymes are crucial for DP cell survival throughout the hair cycle by downregulating p53 activity and controlling p53-independent programs during growth and regression, and predominantly through p53-independent mechanisms during quiescence. The study also reveals that Hdac1 and Hdac2 regulate Wnt signaling levels during the growth phase, which is essential for the hair cycle clock. This research provides insights into the molecular mechanisms that sustain the stem-cell niche in a dynamic microenvironment and shows how the DP can influence and adjust this microenvironment.