Immunostaining Study of Cytokeratins in Human Hair Follicle Development

The study investigated the expression of cytokeratins (CKs) in human hair follicles using immunostaining techniques on 73 skin biopsies from fetuses aged 4 to 25 weeks. CK14 was first expressed at 9 weeks, followed by CK1, CK10, CK13, and CK16 at 12 weeks, and CK20 at 14 weeks. These findings revealed specific patterns of CK expression corresponding to different stages of hair follicle development, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of hair growth and differentiation. The research suggested potential applications in regenerative therapies and diagnostics for hair loss disorders, though it called for further studies to deepen the understanding of hair follicle biology.