Mice With a Null Mutation of the TGFα Gene Have Abnormal Skin Architecture, Wavy Hair, and Curly Whiskers and Often Develop Corneal Inflammation
April 1993
in “
Cell
”
TLDR TGFα gene mutation in mice causes abnormal skin, wavy hair, curly whiskers, and sometimes eye inflammation.
Mice with a null mutation of the TGFα gene showed abnormal skin architecture, wavy hair, and curly whiskers, with some developing corneal inflammation as they aged. Histological analysis revealed significant hair follicle derangement, and the phenotype was similar to the waved-1 (wa-1) mouse mutant. Crosses between TGFα −/− and wa-1 mice produced offspring with the same curly whisker-coat phenotype, indicating that the wa-1 phenotype was due to a TGFα gene mutation. These results suggested that TGFα was crucial for proper skin architecture and hair development.
