Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 Inhibits the Regeneration of Hair Follicles
January 2019
in “
PeerJ
”
TLDR A protein called sFRP4 can slow down hair regrowth.
The 2019 study investigated the role of Secreted Frizzled-related Protein 4 (sFRP4) in hair follicle regeneration. Researchers found that sFRP4, a protein expressed in both human and mouse hair follicles, inhibits hair follicle regeneration when overexpressed. However, the structure of hair follicles remained intact and the growth was not completely blocked. The protein works by preventing the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, a key protein in the Wnt signaling pathway crucial for hair growth. These findings suggest that sFRP4 could be a potential target for therapies aimed at promoting hair growth and treating conditions like alopecia.