In Vivo Monitoring of Hair Cycle Stages via Bioluminescence Imaging of Hair Follicle NG2 Cells

January 2018 in “ Scientific reports ”

Yasuhisa Tamura, Kumi Takata, Akiyo Eguchi, Yosky Kataoka

hair cycle hair follicle NG2 cells bulge stem cells bioluminescence imaging transgenic rats firefly luciferase gene hair follicle regeneration hair regrowth treatments hair growth cycle hair roots stem cells bioluminescent imaging genetically modified rats luciferase

TLDR Bioluminescence imaging can track hair follicle cells and help study hair regrowth.

The study demonstrated that NG2+ epithelial cells in hair follicles, which include bulge stem cells, showed significant changes in number during different hair cycle phases. Researchers generated transgenic rats expressing the firefly luciferase gene in NG2 cells to monitor these changes in vivo using bioluminescence imaging. This method allowed for clear visualization of hair follicle NG2 cells throughout the hair cycle, from infancy to old age, providing a valuable tool for studying hair follicle regeneration and evaluating hair regrowth treatments.

View this study on nature.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Msi2 Maintains Quiescent State of Hair Follicle Stem Cells by Directly Repressing the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

29 citations , May 2017 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

The Msi2 protein helps keep hair follicle stem cells inactive, controlling hair growth and regeneration.

research Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

75 citations , August 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Aging mice have slower hair regeneration due to changes in signal balance, but the environment, not stem cell loss, controls this, suggesting treatments could focus on environmental factors.

research Transgenic Flash Mice for In Vivo Quantitative Monitoring of Canonical Wnt Signaling to Track Hair Follicle Cycle Dynamics

16 citations , June 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Researchers developed a mouse model that tracks hair growth using bioluminescence, improving accuracy in studying hair cycles.

research Adenovirus-Mediated Wnt10b Overexpression Induces Hair Follicle Regeneration

77 citations , January 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Wnt10b overexpression can regenerate hair follicles, possibly helping treat hair loss and alopecia.

research Estrogen Leads to Reversible Hair Cycle Retardation Through Inducing Premature Catagen and Maintaining Telogen

42 citations , July 2012 in “PLOS ONE”

Estrogen can temporarily slow down hair growth but this can be reversed.

research Valproic Acid Induces Hair Regeneration in Murine Model and Activates Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Human Dermal Papilla Cells

85 citations , April 2012 in “PLOS ONE”

Valproic Acid helps regrow hair in mice and activates a hair growth marker in human cells.

research Paracrine TGF-β Signaling Counterbalances BMP-Mediated Repression in Hair Follicle Stem Cell Activation

321 citations , January 2012 in “Cell stem cell”

TGF-β2 helps activate hair follicle stem cells by counteracting BMP signals.

research Reprogramming Adult Dermis to a Neonatal State Through Epidermal Activation of Beta-Catenin

128 citations , December 2011 in “Development”

Activating a protein called β-catenin in adult skin can make it behave like young skin, potentially helping with skin aging and hair loss.

research Nerve-Derived Sonic Hedgehog Defines a Niche for Hair Follicle Stem Cells Capable of Becoming Epidermal Stem Cells

396 citations , May 2011 in “Cell stem cell”

Nerve signals are crucial for hair follicle stem cells to become skin stem cells and help in wound healing.

research Self-Organizing and Stochastic Behaviors During the Regeneration of Hair Stem Cells

176 citations , April 2011 in “Science”

Hair stem cell regeneration is controlled by signals that can explain different hair growth patterns and baldness.

research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ

759 citations , February 2009 in “Current Biology”

Hair follicles are complex, dynamic mini-organs that help us understand cell growth, death, migration, and differentiation, as well as tissue regeneration and tumor biology.

research Lgr5 Marks Cycling, Yet Long-Lived, Hair Follicle Stem Cells

835 citations , October 2008 in “Nature Genetics”

Lgr5 is a marker for active, long-lasting stem cells in mouse hair follicles.

research Complex Hair Cycle Domain Patterns and Regenerative Hair Waves in Living Rodents

127 citations , May 2008 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Mice hair growth patterns get more complex with age and can change with events like pregnancy or injury.

research Modulation of Hair Growth with Small Molecule Agonists of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

113 citations , October 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Applying a special compound can promote hair growth without harmful side effects.

research 17β-Estradiol and ICI-182780 Regulate the Hair Follicle Cycle in Mice Through an Estrogen Receptor-α Pathway

71 citations , February 2000 in “Endocrinology and metabolism/American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism”

Estradiol stops hair growth in mice, but an antagonist can reverse this effect.

research Induction of the Hair Growth Phase in Postnatal Mice by Localized Transient Expression of Sonic Hedgehog

231 citations , October 1999 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

Activating the Sonic hedgehog gene in mice can start the hair growth phase.

research An Estrogen Receptor Pathway Regulates the Telogen-Anagen Hair Follicle Transition and Influences Epidermal Cell Proliferation

154 citations , October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

Estrogen affects hair growth and skin cell multiplication.

1 / 1 results

research Morphogenesis, Growth Cycle, and Molecular Regulation of Hair Follicles

21 citations , May 2022 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

Hair growth and health are influenced by factors like age, environment, and nutrition, and are controlled by various molecular pathways. Red light can promote hair growth, and understanding these processes can help treat hair-related diseases.