Sostdc1 defines the size and number of skin appendage placodes

    April 2012 in “Developmental biology
    Katja Maria Närhi, Mark Tümmers, Laura Ahtiainen, Nobuyuki Itoh, Irma Thesleff, Marja L. Mikkola
    TLDR Sostdc1 controls the size and number of hair and mammary gland structures.
    The study investigated the role of Sostdc1 in the development of mammary glands, hair, and vibrissa follicles using Sostdc1-null mice. It was found that Sostdc1 did not affect pelage hair cycling but limited the number of developing vibrissae and muzzle hair follicles, as well as the size of primary hair placodes. Sostdc1 also controlled the size and shape of mammary buds and was essential for suppressing hair follicle fate in the normally hairless nipple epidermis. Loss of Sostdc1 led to the appearance of supernumerary nipple-like protrusions. The functions of Sostdc1 were largely attributed to its ability to attenuate Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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