Inhibition of the Hippo Pathway by Verteporfin Reduces the Proliferation and Stemness of Rat Hair Follicle Neural Crest Stem Cells Under Hypoxia

This study explores the impact of verteporfin (VP), a Hippo pathway inhibitor, on rat hair follicle neural crest stem cells (hfNCSCs) under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia was found to enhance the proliferation and stemness of these cells by increasing the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors and pluripotency-related genes. However, VP treatment reduced both proliferation and the expression of these genes, suggesting that the Hippo pathway plays a crucial role in maintaining hfNCSC properties in hypoxic environments. The findings indicate potential implications for hair growth and regeneration therapies, as well as applications in nerve injury repair and tumor drug delivery. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms.