Activation of Id2 Gene Regulatory Network Ruling Quiescence of Hair Follicle Stem Cells

The study investigated the role of the Id2 gene in hair follicle stem cells (hfSCs) by using a transgenic mouse model with Id2 overexpression. The results showed that Id2 overexpression led to prolonged telogen and delayed anagen activation, maintaining stem cell quiescence. RNA-seq analysis revealed that approximately 10% of genes were affected by Id2 overexpression, with about half of these genes overlapping with those influenced by the BMP pathway, indicating a synergistic relationship. However, the other half of the genes appeared to function independently of BMP signaling, suggesting a complex gene regulatory network governing hfSC quiescence.