TLDR Increasing SSAT makes skin more prone to cancer.
The study used transgenic mice with targeted expression of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) in hair follicle keratinocytes to investigate susceptibility to skin cancer. These K6-SSAT transgenic mice, bred onto a tumor-resistant C57BL/6 background, showed a 10-fold increase in epidermal tumors when exposed to a carcinogenesis protocol involving 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The transgenic mice exhibited elevated SSAT activity and protein levels, along with increased putrescine and N1-acetylspermidine, indicating enhanced polyamine catabolism. The study concluded that this activation of polyamine catabolism might play a crucial role in chemically induced skin cancer, as evidenced by the early onset and progression to carcinomas in the transgenic mice.
54 citations
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May 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Excessive putrescine causes hair loss in transgenic mice by disrupting hair follicle development.
43 citations
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February 1999 in “Biochemical Journal” Overexpression of SSAT in mice causes hair loss, liver damage, and sensitivity to polyamine analogues.
233 citations
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July 1997 in “PubMed” High levels of ornithine decarboxylase can cause tumors in mouse skin.
46 citations
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May 1995 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” A specific gene region can control targeted and responsive gene expression in mice, useful for skin disorder treatments.
37 citations
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February 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Overexpression of SSAT causes hair loss and skin issues, but reducing putrescine can help.
12 citations
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December 2009 in “Amino Acids” Putting α-methylspermidine on mouse skin can start hair growth.
10 citations
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August 2013 in “Experimental Dermatology” Hairless protein and putrescine regulate each other, affecting hair growth and skin balance.
17 citations
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July 2013 in “Amino Acids” Increased ODC activity leads to skin tumors by recruiting stem cells, not by toxic byproducts.
January 2025 in “MEDS Public Health and Preventive Medicine” Spermidine supplements can help extend the hair growth phase and may be useful for treating hair loss.
