Maternal Melatonin Contributes to Offspring Hair Follicle Development Through Transcriptional Regulation of the AP-1 Complex and MAPK Pathway

    February 2025 in “ International Journal of Molecular Sciences ”
    Yang Feng, Ruixin Yang, Jianqiang Zhang, Haonan Yuan, Zunqiang Yan, Pengfei Wang, Xiaochun Ma, Ting Liu, Shuangbao Gun
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    Studysummary In this study, maternal melatonin implantation in pregnant rabbits reduced hair follicle cell apoptosis and increased hair follicle density in their neonatal offspring, suggesting a beneficial impact on hair follicle development mediated through specific molecular pathways.
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    The study examines the impact of maternal melatonin (MT) on hair follicle (HF) development in rabbit offspring, revealing that MT enhances HF density and reduces HF cell apoptosis. This effect is mediated through the transcriptional regulation of the AP-1 complex and the MAPK signaling pathway, with significant roles played by the JUN and FOS proteins. MT administration leads to the downregulation of JUN/FOS and AP-1, while affecting metabolites like equol and norepinephrine, crucial for HF development. The study suggests that MT crosses the placental barrier, influencing fetal skin and HF development, and highlights the potential of MT signaling pathways as therapeutic targets for HF-related conditions. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore therapeutic applications.
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