Investigation of Glypican-4 and -6 by Infrared Spectral Imaging During the Hair Growth Cycle

The study "Investigation of Glypican-4 and -6 by Infrared Spectral Imaging during the Hair Growth Cycle" analyzed the distribution of glypican-4 (GPC4) and glypican-6 (GPC6) in hair follicles during different phases of the hair growth cycle using infrared spectral imaging (IRSI) and Western blot assays. The research involved four donors with two to three hair samples each. The study found that GPC4 and GPC6 are mainly detected in the germinative area of the hair matrix and in the inner root sheath for all phases of the cycle, with an increased correlation in the telogen phase. The different forms of GPC4 and GPC6 were more abundant in hair follicles in the telogen phase. The findings suggest that GPC4 could be an indicator for monitoring the differentiation of stem cells, and GPC6 may play a role in the formation of the secondary hair germ and thus in hair follicle stem cell differentiation. The study concludes that IRSI could be a promising technique to study alopecia.