Conditional Telomerase Induction Causes Proliferation of Hair Follicle Stem Cells

The study demonstrated that conditional induction of TERT in mouse skin epithelium led to the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells and a transition from the resting phase to the active phase of the hair follicle cycle, resulting in robust hair growth. This effect was achieved through a novel mechanism independent of telomere synthesis, as it did not require the telomerase RNA component (TERC). The research utilized a transgenic mouse model with a tetracycline-regulated system to control TERT expression, showing that TERT activation in hair follicle epithelium consistently promoted the anagen phase with 100% penetrance in treated mice. The findings suggested that TERT could activate quiescent stem cells in the hair follicle bulge region, highlighting a non-canonical role for TERT beyond its traditional function in telomere maintenance.