Keratinocyte Growth Factor Is an Important Endogenous Mediator of Hair Follicle Growth, Development, and Differentiation. Normalization of the Nu/Nu Follicular Differentiation Defect and Amelioration of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia.

The study investigated the role of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in hair follicle growth, development, and differentiation. KGF, a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, was found to induce proliferation of keratinocytes and was expressed in skin, particularly in developing hair follicles. The research involved two murine models of alopecia. In nu/nu athymic nude mice, recombinant KGF (rKGF) administered over 17-18 days resulted in dose-dependent hair growth and normalized follicular keratinization defects. In a neonatal rat model of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, rKGF provided a dose-dependent cytoprotective effect, reducing alopecia by up to 50% when administered before chemotherapy. These findings suggested that KGF was a significant endogenous mediator of hair follicle processes.