Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

March 2014 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Chih Chiang Chen, Philip J. Murray, Ting Jiang, Maksim V. Plikus, Yun Ting Chang, Oscar K. Lee, Randall B. Widelitz, Cheng Ming Chuong

hair follicle regeneration extra-follicular modulators Bmp2 Dkk1 Sfrp4 follistatin hair stem cells macroenvironment hair cycling stem cell depletion

TLDR Aging mice have slower hair regeneration due to changes in signal balance, but the environment, not stem cell loss, controls this, suggesting treatments could focus on environmental factors.

The study explored hair follicle regeneration in aging mice and the influence of extra-follicular modulators. It was discovered that hair regeneration slows down in mice over 18 months old due to increased levels of inhibitors like Bmp2, Dkk1, and Sfrp4, and decreased levels of activators such as follistatin. Transplanting aged mouse skin to young hosts showed that hair stem cells in aged skin could be reactivated, indicating that the macroenvironment significantly affects hair cycling. The study concluded that the balance of activator and inhibitor signals in the macroenvironment regulates hair regeneration, and that environmental factors rather than stem cell depletion are responsible for the altered hair regeneration patterns seen in aging. Mathematical modeling supported these findings, suggesting that treatments targeting the macroenvironment could mitigate aging-related changes in hair regeneration.

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Research cited in this study

14 / 14 results

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research Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

75 citations, March 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Aging mice have slower hair regeneration due to changes in signal balance, but the environment, not stem cell loss, controls this, suggesting treatments could focus on environmental factors.

Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

Research cited in this study

research State-Dependent Signaling by Cav1.2 Regulates Hair Follicle Stem Cell Function

research Many Paths to Alopecia via Compromised Regeneration of Hair Follicle Stem Cells

research Physiological Regeneration of Skin Appendages and Implications for Regenerative Medicine

research Multi-Layered Environmental Regulation on the Homeostasis of Stem Cells: The Saga of Hair Growth and Alopecia

research Adipocyte Lineage Cells Contribute to the Skin Stem Cell Niche to Drive Hair Cycling

research Self-Organizing and Stochastic Behaviors During the Regeneration of Hair Stem Cells

research Bald Scalp in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Retains Hair Follicle Stem Cells but Lacks CD200-Rich and CD34-Positive Hair Follicle Progenitor Cells

research Conditional Activin Receptor Type 1B (Acvr1b) Knockout Mice Reveal Hair Loss Abnormality

research Analyses of Regenerative Wave Patterns in Adult Hair Follicle Populations Reveal Macro-Environmental Regulation of Stem Cell Activity

research Activin Controls Skin Morphogenesis and Wound Repair Predominantly via Stromal Cells and in a Concentration-Dependent Manner via Keratinocytes

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