Review of Women with Vision: The Presentation Sisters of South Dakota, 1880-1985
January 1990
TLDR Knocking out the FGF5 gene in sheep increased wool production and hair-follicle density.
The study focused on the role of the fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene, known for inhibiting the anagen phase of the hair cycle, and its impact on wool production. Researchers used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to create five FGF5-knockout Dorper sheep, resulting in significantly reduced FGF5 mRNA expression and dysfunctional FGF5 proteins. These knockout sheep exhibited increased fine-wool production and higher hair-follicle density. The study highlighted the interaction between androgen and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways downstream of the FGF5 gene, establishing a signaling cascade involving FGF5, FGFR1, androgen, AR, Wnt/β-catenin, Shh/Gli2, c-MYC, and KRTs. These findings enhanced the understanding of the FGF5 gene's function and suggested potential therapeutic approaches for androgen alopecia.
