Shh maintains dermal papilla identity and hair morphogenesis via a Noggin–Shh regulatory loop
June 2012
in “Genes & Development”
TLDR Sonic hedgehog signaling is crucial for hair growth and maintaining hair follicle identity.
The document from June 1, 2012, details a study on the role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in hair follicle morphogenesis, particularly focusing on the dermal papilla (DP) and dermal cells (DC). The research demonstrated that Shh signaling is essential for maintaining DP identity and hair morphogenesis by inducing the expression of Noggin, a BMP antagonist, in DCs. The study found that loss of Smoothened (Smo) function in the dermis led to the loss of DP precursors and arrested hair follicle development, which could be partially rescued by overexpressing Noggin. This suggests a critical Noggin-Shh regulatory loop in hair follicle morphogenesis. Additionally, the study showed that Shh signaling regulates a subset of DP signature genes without affecting dermal proliferation, indicating specific functions of dermal Smo in maintaining DP cell identity and maturation. The findings imply that disrupting the Noggin-Shh loop could have therapeutic implications for cancers involving this pathway. The study was conducted using mouse models and did not involve human subjects.
View this study on genesdev.cshlp.org →
Cited in this study
research Paracrine TGF-β Signaling Counterbalances BMP-Mediated Repression in Hair Follicle Stem Cell Activation
TGF-β2 helps activate hair follicle stem cells by counteracting BMP signals.
research Reprogramming adult dermis to a neonatal state through epidermal activation of β-catenin
Activating a protein called β-catenin in adult skin can make it behave like young skin, potentially helping with skin aging and hair loss.
research Control of hair follicle cell fate by underlying mesenchyme through a CSL–Wnt5a–FoxN1 regulatory axis
Notch/CSL signaling controls hair follicle differentiation through Wnt5a and FoxN1.
research β-catenin Activity in the Dermal Papilla Regulates Morphogenesis and Regeneration of Hair
β-catenin in the dermal papilla is crucial for normal hair growth and repair.
research Identification of the cell lineage at the origin of basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma mostly starts from cells in the upper skin layers, not hair follicle stem cells.
research SKPs Derive from Hair Follicle Precursors and Exhibit Properties of Adult Dermal Stem Cells
SKPs are similar to adult skin stem cells and could help in skin repair and hair growth.
research Laminin-511 is an epithelial message promoting dermal papilla development and function during early hair morphogenesis
Laminin-511 is crucial for early hair growth and maintaining important hair development signals.
research Molecular Dissection of Mesenchymal–Epithelial Interactions in the Hair Follicle
Understanding gene expression in hair follicles can reveal insights into hair growth and disorders.
research Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Hair Follicle Development
Understanding hair follicle development can help treat hair loss, skin regeneration, and certain skin cancers.
research Noggin is required for induction of the hair follicle growth phase in postnatal skin
Noggin is necessary to start the hair growth phase in skin after birth.
research The secret life of the hair follicle
Hair follicles create different cell layers and proteins, controlled by various molecules.
research Dermal-epidermal interactions
The dermal papilla interacts with the epidermis to control hair growth and development.