Integrin-Linked Kinase Inhibition via QLT0267 Stops the Epithelial Outgrowth

The study investigated the effects of QLT0267, a pharmacological inhibitor, on integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in human hair follicle (HF) keratinocytes. It was found that QLT0267 significantly inhibited the proliferative and migrative capacity of epithelial outgrowth in the HF bulb and upper HF, as demonstrated by reduced ILK immunoreactivity. The treatment also induced a strong apoptotic effect, with nearly 100% of outer root sheath keratinocytes showing cleaved caspase 3 positivity. The study involved 24-28 HFs from 3 individuals for outgrowth analysis and 7-10 HFs from 3 individuals for immunoreactivity analysis, with statistical significance confirmed by the Mann-Whitney test.