A Novel Human Type II Cytokeratin, K6hf, Specifically Expressed in the Companion Layer of the Hair Follicle

December 1998 in “ The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology ”

Hermelita Winter, Lutz Langbein, Silke Praetzel, Martina Jacobs, Michael A. Rogers, Irene M. Leigh, N Tidman, Jürgen Schweizer

K6hf type II cytokeratin hair follicle companion layer K5 K6 K17 K16 outer root sheath inner root sheath

TLDR K6hf is a unique protein found only in a specific layer of hair follicles.

Researchers identified a novel human type II cytokeratin, named K6hf, specifically expressed in the companion layer of the hair follicle. This cytokeratin, comprising 251 amino acids, showed high sequence homology with K5 and comigrated with K6 in western blots. K6hf was exclusively found in the companion layer, a distinct band of cells between the outer and inner root sheaths of the hair follicle. The study also indicated that K17 and K16 are expressed sequentially after K6hf in companion cells, suggesting that K6hf has a unique type I partner yet to be identified. This discovery highlighted the companion layer as a biochemically and morphologically distinct compartment within the hair follicle.

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