TLDR Mice without the Sp6 gene have problems developing several body parts, including hair, teeth, limbs, and lungs.
In a study from 2008, researchers investigated the role of the SP6 protein, which is produced by the Sp6 gene and is part of the SP/KLF family of transcription factors. They created Sp6 null mice by knocking out the gene responsible for coding the SP6 protein. These mice exhibited a range of developmental issues, including being hairless, having nonfunctional teeth, and presenting with limb and lung malformations. The study also found that these abnormalities were linked to misregulated apoptosis, suggesting that SP6 is crucial for the development of various organs and appendages that contain epithelium, by potentially regulating cell death processes.
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February 2007 in “Nature” The document concludes that skin stem cells are important for hair growth and wound healing, and could be used in regenerative medicine.
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January 2005 in “BioEssays” Hair follicle development is controlled by interactions between skin tissues and specific molecular signals.
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February 1992 in “Trends in genetics” Hair follicles create different cell layers and proteins, controlled by various molecules.
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January 2008 in “Journal of medical investigation” Sp6 promotes tooth development by reducing follistatin levels.
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May 2017 in “Nature Cell Biology” Hair can regrow after certain stem cells are lost because other stem cells can take over their role.
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August 2008 in “Human molecular genetics online/Human molecular genetics” A position effect on the TRPS1 gene causes excessive hair growth in humans and mice.
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January 2021 in “Scientific Reports” Pannexin 3 helps skin and hair growth by controlling a protein called Epiprofin.
