Constitutive Activation of Stat3 in Mouse Epidermis Is Linked to Hair Deficiency and Cytoskeletal Network Damage

The study investigated the role of constitutive Stat3 activation in mouse epidermis and its link to hair deficiency and cytoskeletal network damage. Researchers used transgenic mice (BK5.Stat3C) with keratinocytes expressing an active form of Stat3 and compared them to wild-type mice. They found that approximately 70 genes were upregulated, including 33 hair follicle-related genes, while 63 genes were downregulated, including 26 cytoskeletal genes. This aberrant gene expression led to hair loss and structural disorganization in hair follicles. The findings suggested that Stat3 plays a critical role in hair growth and cycling, and its dysregulation could contribute to hair disorders like alopecia. The study highlighted the potential for developing new therapeutics targeting Stat3 for hair disorders.