TLDR Notch/RBP-J signaling is crucial for proper placement and timing of melanocyte development in hair follicles.
This study demonstrated that the Notch/RBP-J signaling pathway played crucial roles in the postnatal development of the melanocyte lineage in hair follicles. By conditionally ablating the RBP-J gene in melanocytes and using the Dct-lacZ reporter transgene, researchers found that Notch/RBP-J-deficient melanoblasts were fewer in number and improperly located within the hair follicle. Notch signaling was essential to prevent premature differentiation of melanocyte stem cells and melanoblasts, ensuring their proper placement in the outer root sheath and hair matrix. These findings highlighted previously unrecognized functions of Notch signaling in maintaining melanocyte lineage homeostasis.
165 citations,
June 2007 in “European Journal of Cell Biology” Hair follicle stem cells are key for hair and skin regeneration, can be reprogrammed, and have potential therapeutic uses, but also carry a risk of cancer.
29 citations,
June 1998 in “Developmental Biology” More melanoblasts in hair follicles mean better survival and proper hair pigmentation.
210 citations,
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24 citations,
March 2018 in “Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research” The environment around melanocyte stem cells is key for hair regeneration and color, with certain injuries affecting hair color and potential treatments for pigmentation disorders.
March 2009 in “Medical & surgical dermatology” Women with androgenetic alopecia have fewer terminal hairs, phenol in nail surgery is safe, and a new hair transplant method is faster and less damaging.
1 citations,
September 2023 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Removing Dicer from pigment cells in newborn mice causes early hair graying and changes in cell migration molecules.
36 citations,
September 2009 in “Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine” New treatments targeting skin stem cells show promise for skin repair, anti-aging, and cancer therapy.
August 2024 in “Applied Sciences” Plant extracts may help prevent or reverse hair graying.
