Order From Disorder: Self-Organization In Mammalian Hair Patterning

The study investigated self-organization in mammalian hair patterning, focusing on the role of molecular signals and cellular interactions in establishing hair follicle patterns. It highlighted the importance of signaling pathways like Wnt, Eda, and Shh in coordinating hair follicle arrangement. Researchers examined hair follicle orientation in Frizzled6 (Fz6)−/− mice, which showed disrupted hair patterns, and found that hair follicles in both wild-type and Fz6−/− mice could reorient through a self-organized process. The study identified a global system dependent on Fz6 and a local self-organizing system that acts independently of Fz6. Experiments with Fz6−/−:WT chimeras and skin injury supported the existence of a local orienting system. The study involved 24 wild-type and 27 Fz6−/− mice, providing insights into hair patterning mechanisms and suggesting that similar self-organizing principles might apply to other developmental systems.