TLDR Hair follicle stem cells in hairpoor mice are disrupted, causing hair loss.
The study on the hairpoor mouse, an MUHH model, reveals that hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) quiescence is disrupted, leading to a disturbed hair cycle and alopecia. After the 1st telogen stage, hair follicles drastically decrease, and HFSCs show reduced quiescence and increased proliferation. Key signaling molecules like Fgf18, Bmp6, and Wnt are misregulated, causing accelerated hair cycling and transition from telogen to anagen. These findings help explain the progression of alopecia in MUHH patients.
426 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature Medicine” Skin stem cells interacting with their environment is crucial for maintaining and regenerating skin and hair, and understanding this can help develop new treatments for skin and hair disorders.
173 citations,
January 2014 in “Nature Cell Biology” Wnt signaling controls whether hair follicle stem cells stay inactive or regenerate hair.
156 citations,
December 2012 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology” Different types of stem cells in hair follicles play unique roles in wound healing and hair growth, with some stem cells not originating from existing hair follicles but from non-hair follicle cells. WNT signaling and the Lhx2 factor are key in creating new hair follicles.
68 citations,
May 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” The conclusion is that Fgf18 and Tgf-ß signaling could be targeted for hair loss treatments.
43 citations,
February 2009 in “Molecular biology of the cell” Disrupting Smad4 in mouse skin causes early hair follicle stem cell activity that leads to their eventual depletion.
181 citations,
January 2009 in “Nature Genetics” Certain mutations in a hair growth-related gene cause a type of genetic hair loss.
January 2022 in “Journal of St. Marianna University” Substances from human hair cells can affect hair loss-related genes, potentially leading to new treatments for baldness.
154 citations,
October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” Estrogen affects hair growth and skin cell multiplication.
