KLF4 Maintains Hair Follicle Stem Cell Quiescence
TLDR KLF4 is important for keeping hair follicle stem cells inactive.
The study investigates the role of the transcription factor KLF4 in maintaining hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) quiescence. KLF4 is found in quiescent bulge stem cells of hair follicles and is absent in proliferating cells. Deleting Klf4 in postnatal mice led to epidermal hyperproliferation, water loss, inflammation, and premature hair follicle growth. Specifically, HFSC-targeted Klf4 deletion caused early anagen onset due to decreased expression of quiescence regulator Fgf18 and cell cycle inhibitor p21, and increased expression of Vdr. Chromatin accessibility changes and direct interactions with other transcription factors like FOXC1, FOXP1, and NFATC1 were observed, indicating KLF4's role in activating quiescence genes and repressing proliferation genes. This identifies KLF4 as a crucial regulator of HFSC quiescence.
