VDR Is an Essential Regulator of Hair Follicle Regression Through the Progression of Cell Death

September 2023 in “ Life science alliance ”

Yudai Joko, Yasutake Yamamoto, Shigeaki Kato, Tadashi Takemoto, Masahiro Abe, Toshio Matsumoto, Seiji Fukumoto, Shun Sawatsubashi

Vitamin D Receptor VDR hair follicle regression catagen Vdr-knockout mice hair follicle stem cells HFSCs dermal papilla DP catagen arrest alopecia epithelial strands dermal cysts

Studysummary In this study, researchers observed that Vdr-knockout mice experience hair cycle arrest during the catagen stage, leading to alopecia, with persistent epithelial strands forming in the hair follicles, indicating Vitamin D receptor's role in regulating hair follicle regression and regeneration. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study "VDR is an essential regulator of hair follicle regression through the progression of cell death" demonstrates the critical role of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) in controlling hair follicle regression, or catagen. The absence of VDR was found to delay the onset of catagen, leading to extended hair growth. The research used Vdr-knockout mice and found that their hair cycle was halted during catagen, leading to the formation of "surviving epithelial strands" and preventing the completion of the catagen phase. This resulted in the hair follicles becoming trapped in a "paused-catagen" state, eventually transforming into dermal cysts. However, these mice retained the regenerative potential of their hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and dermal papilla (DP), even in the paused-catagen state. The study suggests that VDR-deficient alopecia in humans may also be due to catagen arrest and that it may be possible to treat this type of alopecia by inducing activation of the signaling between HFSCs and DP or by eliminating surviving epithelial strands before cyst formation.

View this study on life-science-alliance.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

21 / 21 results

research Progenitor-Derived Endothelin Controls Dermal Sheath Contraction for Hair Follicle Regression

5 citations , January 2023 in “Nature cell biology”

This study found that endothelin produced by hair follicle progenitors activates contractions in dermal sheath cells, facilitating hair follicle regression in the growth cycle.

research Morphogenesis, Growth Cycle, and Molecular Regulation of Hair Follicles

21 citations , May 2022 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology”

This review covers the structure, development, cycle, and molecular regulation of hair follicles but does not report new results, aiming to offer insights for addressing hair follicle-related diseases.

research Immune Modulation of Hair Follicle Regeneration

29 citations , May 2020 in “npj Regenerative Medicine”

This review discusses the role of the immune niche in hair follicle regeneration and its impact on different forms of alopecia, highlighting research gaps and potential therapeutic strategies.

research Temporal Layering of Signaling Effectors Drives Chromatin Remodeling During Hair Follicle Stem Cell Lineage Progression

85 citations , January 2018 in “Cell stem cell”

This study found that synchronized signals in the microenvironment regulate stem cell lineage choices in hair follicles by influencing chromatin dynamics during regeneration.

research Epithelial-Mesenchymal Micro-Niches Govern Stem Cell Lineage Choices

214 citations , April 2017 in “Cell”

This study found that micro-niches within hair follicles create heterogeneity among stem cells and transit-amplifying cells, leading to specialized progenitors that control tissue morphogenesis and regeneration.

Nongenomic Effects of 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Cartilage Formation Deduced from Comparisons Between Cyp27b1 and Vdr Knockout Mice

research Nongenomic Effects of 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Cartilage Formation Deduced from Comparisons Between Cyp27b1 and Vdr Knockout Mice

11 citations , January 2017 in “Biochemical and biophysical research communications”

This study observed that Cyp27b1−/− mice exhibited growth and skeletal abnormalities similar to those of Vdr−/− mice, despite differences like the development of alopecia in Vdr−/− mice, suggesting that 1α,25D3 may directly influence chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation.

research Absence of Vitamin D Receptor-Mediated PPARγ Suppression Causes Alopecia in VDR-Null Mice

12 citations , December 2016 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that the absence of vitamin D receptor-mediated suppression of PPARγ expression causes hair loss in VDR-null mice.

research Early Inductive Events in Ectodermal Appendage Morphogenesis

160 citations , January 2014 in “Seminars in cell & developmental biology”

This review discusses the shared molecular and cellular processes in the early development stages of skin appendages like hair follicles, teeth, and mammary glands, reporting no new results.

research Adenovirus-Mediated Wnt10b Overexpression Induces Hair Follicle Regeneration

77 citations , July 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

The researchers observed that overexpression of Wnt10b in a mouse model can induce hair follicle regeneration by switching follicles from the resting phase to the growth phase via the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway.

research Paracrine TGF-β Signaling Counterbalances BMP-Mediated Repression in Hair Follicle Stem Cell Activation

321 citations , January 2012 in “Cell stem cell”

This study identified TGF-β2 as a crucial signal in hair follicle stem cell regeneration, highlighting its role in counteracting BMP signaling to promote tissue regeneration.

research The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Mutations in the Development of Alopecia

109 citations , June 2011 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

Vitamin D receptor mutations can cause alopecia by affecting hair growth genes.

research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Mini-Organ

759 citations , February 2009 in “Current Biology”

This review summarizes fundamental concepts and recent advancements in hair follicle biology, including insights from mouse models into broader molecular and cellular processes relevant to regeneration and development.

research Vitamin D Receptor Is Essential For Normal Keratinocyte Stem Cell Function

143 citations , May 2007 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

This study found that absence of the vitamin D receptor in keratinocytes impairs canonical Wnt signaling and leads to alopecia due to defects in keratinocyte stem cells.

research Hair Follicle Expression of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptors During the Murine Hair Cycle

95 citations , July 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study observed that vitamin D receptor expression in certain hair follicle cells varies throughout the murine hair cycle, suggesting a potential role for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in hair follicle biology.

research The Hair Cycle

375 citations , February 2006 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This article reviews the stages and regulation of the hair cycle, highlighting molecular regulators involved, but it does not present new research findings.

research The Hair Cycle

103 citations , January 2006 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This review summarizes the major events and regulators of the hair cycle in mammals but reports no new experimental results; it emphasizes the complex regulation of stem cell activation and differentiation during hair growth.

research Development and Progression of Alopecia in the Vitamin D Receptor Null Mouse

81 citations , January 2006 in “Journal of cellular physiology”

This study found that the absence of the vitamin D receptor disrupts hair follicle structure during the first catagen in mice, linked to increased expression of the hairless gene.

research Lack of the Vitamin D Receptor Is Associated with Reduced Epidermal Differentiation and Hair Follicle Growth

180 citations , January 2002 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that vitamin D receptor knockout mice exhibit impaired epidermal differentiation and progressive hair loss, suggesting the importance of the vitamin D receptor in normal skin and hair follicle development.

research Targeting Expression of the Human Vitamin D Receptor to the Keratinocytes of Vitamin D Receptor Null Mice Prevents Alopecia

115 citations , December 2001 in “Endocrinology”

This study found that restoring vitamin D receptor expression specifically in the keratinocytes of VDR null mice prevented alopecia and enhanced hair follicle response during anagen initiation.

research Targeting Expression of the Human Vitamin D Receptor to the Keratinocytes of Vitamin D Receptor Null Mice Prevents Alopecia

21 citations , December 2001 in “Endocrinology”

This study found that restoring vitamin D receptor expression in keratinocytes of VDR null mice prevents alopecia by enhancing the hair follicle's proliferative response during anagen initiation.

research The Role of the Hairless (Hr) Gene in the Regulation of Hair Follicle Catagen Transformation

166 citations , July 1999 in “American Journal Of Pathology”

This study found that the loss of a functional hr gene in mice leads to premature and abnormal hair follicle regression, disrupting normal hair cycling and architecture.