The Role of the SWI/SNF ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling Complex in the Regulation of Human Hair Follicle Cell Proliferation and Control of Human Cutaneous Wound Healing

The study explored the role of SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes in human hair follicles and wound healing. It was found that genes encoding SWI/SNF complex subunits were expressed in human hair follicles, and siRNA-mediated suppression of these complexes did not affect hair growth or the anagen-catagen transition in the short term. However, there was a significant increase in the proliferation of outer root sheath keratinocytes. Additionally, the study highlighted the expression of several SWI/SNF subunits in human epidermis and demonstrated that suppression of the SMARCA4 gene, which encodes the BRG1 ATPase, affected keratinocyte migration but not proliferation, indicating BRG1's essential role in wound closure and re-epithelization.