Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Various Compartments of the Human Hair Follicle

The study investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in different cell types derived from human hair follicles, focusing on their role in hair cycle regulation. Researchers found that dermal papilla cells (DPC) and other mesenchymal cells, such as fibrous sheath fibroblasts and dermal fibroblasts, exhibited strong VEGF mRNA expression and synthesized a 46-kDa VEGF protein both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, follicular and interfollicular keratinocytes showed lower VEGF expression levels. The study identified four VEGF isoforms, with the 121-amino acid variant being the most prominent. The findings suggested that DPC are primarily responsible for angiogenic processes related to the hair cycle, highlighting their potential role in maintaining proper vasculature during the anagen growth phase.