Deciphering the Role of the Hexosamine Pathway in Skin Homeostasis

The document presents research on the role of the hexosamine pathway (HP) in skin homeostasis, focusing on its impact on the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular functions in the skin. The HP is responsible for producing aminosugars like UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), which are crucial for various glycosylation processes in cells. Previous studies indicated that activating the HP can lead to increased aminosugar levels, improved protein homeostasis, and extended lifespan in nematodes. The current research found that HP activation enhances resistance to oxidative and UVB-induced stress in murine neuroblastoma cell lines and increases hyaluronic acid secretion, suggesting a modulation of ECM composition and function. Preliminary data also suggest that HP activation promotes the self-renewal of hair follicle stem cells in vitro. Transgenic mice with conditional HP activation have been generated to further investigate the molecular changes in the skin and their in vivo relevance.