An Important Role of Podoplanin in Hair Follicle Growth

The study identified podoplanin (PDPN) as a crucial factor in hair follicle (HF) cycling, particularly during the late-anagen growth phase in mice. PDPN was expressed in HF keratinocytes and stem cells during this phase but not in the telogen phase. Mice with keratinocyte-specific PDPN deletion showed enhanced anagen HF growth and larger hair bulb diameters compared to controls. RNA sequencing indicated down-regulation of focal adhesion and extracellular matrix interaction pathways, suggesting enhanced migration of HF stem cells. These results suggested that PDPN deletion promoted hair growth by reducing focal adhesion and enhancing cell migration, indicating potential therapeutic strategies for alopecia.