Over-Expression of Thymosin Beta4 Promotes Abnormal Tooth Development and Stimulation of Hair Growth

The study explored the impact of thymosin beta4 over-expression in transgenic mice, revealing that it caused both accelerated hair growth and abnormal tooth development. The mice developed abnormally-shaped white teeth and dull incisors, with a 100% occurrence rate in the examined group of over 20 mice, suggesting enamel hypoplasia. The research also indicated that thymosin beta4 is crucial for tooth development, particularly in enamel matrix formation, and it enhances the expression of laminin-5, a protein linked to hair growth, with increased levels found in hair follicles. The study's experiments were conducted at least three times using a minimum of 5 animals per data point, confirming thymosin beta4's significant role in hair follicle function and tooth development.