In Vivo Alteration of the Keratin 17 Gene in Hair Follicles by Oligonucleotide-Directed Gene Targeting

The study investigated gene correction in keratinocytes by injecting chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides (RDO) or single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssODN) into the skin of C57BL/6 mice to induce a mutation in the K17 gene. The results showed that 5 out of 7 mice injected with K17A-RDO and all 5 mice injected with K17A-ssODN exhibited twisted hair shafts, broken hair follicles, and occasional ruptures of hair bulbs, with a 50% reduction in full anagen hair follicles. Control injections without the mutation did not cause abnormalities. The study concluded that these oligonucleotides affected hair growth and morphology by successfully inducing the targeted mutation.