Progranulin, A Secreted Tumorigenesis And Dementia-Related Factor, Regulates Mouse Hair Growth

The study investigated the effects of Progranulin (PGRN) on hair growth by creating transgenic mice with increased PGRN expression in keratinocytes. These mice displayed a unique hair phenotype with a less fluffy coat and hair that was shorter, thinner, and had a smaller diameter—about one-third of wild-type mice. The transgenic mice also had shorter hair follicles with signs of reduced elongation and increased apoptosis, linked to the activation of the p38 signaling pathway and caspase-3 activity. These results indicate that PGRN overexpression inhibits hair growth and increases cell death in hair follicles, which may be significant for understanding hair growth mechanisms and the development of alopecia. The study suggests a possible association between PGRN and steroid hormone expression in hair follicle development and alopecia.