Parsing Patterns: Emerging Roles of Tissue Self-Organization in Health and Disease

June 2024 in “ Cell ”

Raúl Ramos, Benjamin Swedlund, Anand K. Ganesan, Leonardo Morsut, Philip K. Maini, Edwin S. Monuki, Arthur D. Lander, Cheng‐Ming Chuong, Maksim V. Plikus

tissue self-organization hair growth hair regeneration WNT signaling pathway BMP signaling pathway alopecia psoriasis JAK inhibitors immune-related hair loss organoid technologies synthetic biology tissue engineering regenerative medicine hair loss hair regrowth immune hair loss

Studysummary Understanding tissue self-organization can improve treatments for diseases and advance regenerative medicine. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document explores the concept of tissue self-organization, emphasizing its crucial role in both health and disease. It highlights how self-organized patterns, such as those seen in hair growth and regeneration, are driven by signaling pathways like WNT and BMP, and how disruptions can lead to conditions like alopecia, psoriasis, and cancers. The review suggests that understanding these processes could inform therapeutic strategies, such as using JAK inhibitors for immune-related hair loss, and enhance synthetic biology and tissue engineering applications. The potential of organoid technologies and synthetic biology to replicate complex tissue patterns for drug screening and regenerative medicine is also discussed, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to advance these fields.

View this study on escholarship.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research The Developmental Basis of Fingerprint Pattern Formation and Variation

44 citations , February 2023 in “Cell”

In this study, researchers found that human fingerprint ridges are formed through a modified hair follicle developmental process and spatial patterns influenced by specific signaling pathways.

research Developmental Genetics of Color Pattern Establishment in Cats

20 citations , September 2021 in “Nature communications”

In this study, researchers identified a gene expression pre-pattern and implicated the Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf 4 in the formation of color patterns in domestic cat embryos.

research Symmetry Breaking of Tissue Mechanics in Wound-Induced Hair Follicle Regeneration of Laboratory and Spiny Mice

22 citations , May 2021 in “Nature Communications”

This study found that in wound-induced hair neogenesis, African spiny mice and laboratory mice exhibit different morphogenetic field formation patterns related to tissue stiffness, suggesting evolutionary developmental biology advantages.

research Feather Arrays Are Patterned by Interacting Signaling and Cell Density Waves

133 citations , February 2019 in “PLoS Biology”

This research found that feather pattern formation in birds is regulated by a mechanochemical system involving fibroblast growth factor and bone morphogenetic protein signaling, which is altered in the flightless emu and ostrich.

research Hedgehog Stimulates Hair Follicle Neogenesis by Creating Inductive Dermis During Murine Skin Wound Healing

145 citations , November 2018 in “Nature Communications”

This study found that activating the Sonic hedgehog pathway in scarring wounds can remodel the dermis to promote hair follicle regeneration, highlighting a potential new approach to enhance healing.

research Hierarchical Patterning Modes Orchestrate Hair Follicle Morphogenesis

149 citations , July 2017 in “PLoS Biology”

This study found that hair follicle patterning in development may arise from a combination of epidermal prepattern signals and mesenchymal self-organisation, with fibroblast growth factor and bone morphogenetic protein activities playing key roles.

research Organ-Level Quorum Sensing Directs Regeneration in Hair Stem Cell Populations

236 citations , April 2015 in “Cell”

This study found that patterned hair plucking in mice triggers a collective regeneration response in nearby unplucked hair follicles via a quorum sensing mechanism involving immune signaling.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

research Regenerative Hair Waves in Aging Mice and Extra-Follicular Modulators Follistatin, Dkk1, and Sfrp4

75 citations , March 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that aging mice experience slower and more fragmented hair cycle waves, but transplanting aged skin to a young host can partially restore hair cycling, implicating extracellular factors.

research The Role of Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Collapse in Alopecia Areata: Status and Perspectives

79 citations , December 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This article proposes that alopecia areata may be caused by immune attacks on hair follicles after an immune privilege collapse, suggesting new therapeutic approaches targeting this immune response pattern.

research Fgf9 From Dermal γδ T Cells Induces Hair Follicle Neogenesis After Wounding

237 citations , June 2013 in “Nature Medicine”

This study found that fibroblast growth factor 9, initially secreted by γδ T cells, plays a key role in modulating hair follicle regeneration in mice after skin wounds.

research Topology of Feather Melanocyte Progenitor Niche Allows Complex Pigment Patterns to Emerge

101 citations , April 2013 in “Science”

This study describes how feather pigmentation in birds is regulated by melanocyte distribution, differentiation, and patterned agouti expression, contributing to diverse and adaptive color patterns.

research Self-Organizing and Stochastic Behaviors During the Regeneration of Hair Stem Cells

176 citations , April 2011 in “Science”

This study found that in a population of hair follicles, regenerative cycling stages are regulated by both intrinsic and extrinsic signals, with WNT/BMP signaling mediating interactions among follicles for adaptability.

research Complex Hair Cycle Domain Patterns and Regenerative Hair Waves in Living Rodents

127 citations , December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This review examines regenerative hair waves and complex hair cycle domains in transgenic mice, highlighting how these dynamic processes contribute to skin regeneration and the physiological regulation of organs, but reports no new experimental results.

research Wnt-Dependent De Novo Hair Follicle Regeneration in Adult Mouse Skin After Wounding

829 citations , May 2007 in “Nature”

Hair follicles can regrow in wounded adult mouse skin using a process like embryo development.

research Organogenesis From Dissociated Cells: Generation of Mature Cycling Hair Follicles From Skin-Derived Cells

205 citations , April 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study describes a system for generating hair follicles from dissociated cells in mice, suggesting that successful development requires a foundational epithelial platform.

research Distribution of Human Hair in Follicular Units

83 citations , April 1999 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that hair transplant surgeons can use a new model to predict the number and distribution of follicular units in donor scalp areas based on patient hair density.