Prolactin and Its Receptor Are Expressed in Murine Hair Follicle Epithelium, Show Hair Cycle-Dependent Expression, and Induce Catagen

May 2003 in “ American Journal of Pathology ”

Kerstin Foitzik, Karoline Krause, A. J. Nixon, Christine A. Ford, Ulrich Ohnemus, A. J. Pearson, Ralf Paus

TLDR Prolactin affects hair growth cycles and can cause early hair follicle regression.

The document from May 1, 2003, details a study that found prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) are expressed in murine hair follicle epithelium in a hair cycle-dependent manner, with increased expression during the anagen and catagen phases. The study revealed that PRL can induce premature catagen development, suggesting a direct role in modulating the hair cycle. Using real-time PCR and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry, the researchers showed that PRL treatment reduced the number of proliferating cells in the hair bulb and maintained more follicles in the telogen phase. These findings suggest that PRL acts locally within hair follicles, potentially influencing hair growth abnormalities in conditions with elevated PRL levels. The document does not provide the number of mice used in the study.

View this study on europepmc.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Towards a Molecular Understanding of Hair Loss and Its Treatment

236 citations, July 2001 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine”

Future hair loss treatments should aim to extend hair growth, reactivate resting follicles, reverse shrinkage, and possibly create new follicles, with gene therapy showing promise.

Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

research Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

73 citations, June 2001 in “Endocrinology”

Prolactin affects when mice shed and grow hair.

research Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

14 citations, June 2001 in “Endocrinology”

Prolactin affects when mice shed and grow hair.

research The Skin POMC System (SPS): Leads and Lessons from the Hair Follicle

66 citations, October 1999 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences”

The Skin POMC System affects hair growth and skin responses to stress.

research The Biology of Hair Follicles

1113 citations, August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.

research An Estrogen Receptor Pathway Regulates the Telogen-Anagen Hair Follicle Transition and Influences Epidermal Cell Proliferation

154 citations, October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

Estrogen affects hair growth and skin cell multiplication.

Related Research

2 / 2 results

research Beta-Catenin Activity in the Dermal Papilla Regulates Morphogenesis and Regeneration of Hair

314 citations, April 2010 in “Developmental Cell”

β-catenin in the dermal papilla is crucial for normal hair growth and repair.

research Hair Follicle Regeneration After Implantation of Hair Follicle Cells into Subcutis of Nude Mice

July 2004 in “PubMed”

Hair follicle-like structures can form when specific hair cells are mixed and implanted in mice.

Prolactin and Its Receptor Are Expressed in Murine Hair Follicle Epithelium, Show Hair Cycle-Dependent Expression, and Induce Catagen

Research cited in this study

research Towards a Molecular Understanding of Hair Loss and Its Treatment

research Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

research Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

research The Skin POMC System (SPS): Leads and Lessons from the Hair Follicle

research The Biology of Hair Follicles

research An Estrogen Receptor Pathway Regulates the Telogen-Anagen Hair Follicle Transition and Influences Epidermal Cell Proliferation

research Growth of Secondary Hair Follicles of the Cashmere Goat In Vitro and Their Response to Prolactin and Melatonin

research Hormonal Basis of Male and Female Androgenic Alopecia: Clinical Relevance

research Does Prolactin Play a Role in Skin Biology and Pathology?

Related Community Posts Join

community HLT Megathread on HMI-115 (key takeaways in comments)

community HMI-115 update: Chime Biologics and Hope Medicine Enter Manufacturing Agreement to Speed up the Launch of First-in-class Antibody Drug HMI-115 Targeting Endometriosis and Androgenic Alopecia

community Prolactin’s role in antitumor activity of the immune system – a safety concern for HMI-115?

community Since there is so much hype for cosmeRNA and HMI-115...

community PYRILUTAMIDE PHASE 3 RESULTS : No statistical significance

community How can a drug which increases prolactin, cause regrowth of hair?

Related Research

research Beta-Catenin Activity in the Dermal Papilla Regulates Morphogenesis and Regeneration of Hair

research Hair Follicle Regeneration After Implantation of Hair Follicle Cells into Subcutis of Nude Mice