April 2026 in “Experimental & Molecular Medicine” This study used integrated single-cell chromatin and transcriptomic analyses in developing mouse skin to uncover gene networks involved in skin lineage specification and identified Mef2c+ upper fibroblasts as potential precursors to certain muscle-like structures, with cross-species findings in human skin.
854 citations
,
February 2002 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of hair follicle formation and discusses potential future clinical applications for treating hair loss and skin tumors, but it reports no new clinical results.
16 citations
,
April 2021 in “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology” This review discusses human hair follicle development and highlights the potential of creating human in vitro models and skin substitutes with hair follicles, reporting no new clinical results.
This study investigated the molecular mechanisms behind cashmere goat coat types by analyzing gene expression during hair follicle development stages, identifying regulatory pathways involved in metabolism, immune response, and the quiescent state of follicles, potentially aiding in genetic selection for improved cashmere production.
November 2024 in “Journal of Translational Internal Medicine” This study found that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes improved hair growth in mice with androgenetic alopecia by promoting hair follicle stem cell stemness through the RAS/ERK pathway, suggesting a potential new treatment strategy for this condition.
This study found that elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) wound dressings promote tissue regeneration and stability without rejection in ex vivo and in vivo models, indicating potential for hard-to-heal wound treatment.
This study found that finasteride could enhance the stemness of dermal papilla cells, suggesting potential benefits for hair regeneration approaches.
22 citations
,
September 1982 in “Journal of ultrastructure research” This study reports new cellular features and complex interaction systems in fiber differentiation, indicating more intricate cellular organization than previously recognized, including features like mast cells and primary cilia.
71 citations
,
September 2006 in “Cell Transplantation” This study concludes that fetal skin cells can significantly enhance wound healing and reduce scarring when used to treat severe burns and various wounds in children.
10 citations
,
December 2021 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology” This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to map the cellular composition of sheep hair follicles, revealing differentiation pathways and potential molecular mechanisms for wool curvature, which may inform sheep breeding.
6 citations
,
April 2024 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This review highlights recent advances in CRISPR-based lineage tracing methods that can improve our understanding of skin stem cell behavior, regeneration, and disease, with potential applications in organoids and model organisms.
April 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This review highlights the limitations of existing hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride and suggests that future therapies may benefit from focusing on antibody and cell-based treatments, which offer targeted and potentially transformative options for managing hair loss disorders.
July 2024 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Targeting TCR-Vβ2 in cutaneous T cell lymphoma shows promise for safer, more specific treatment.
190 citations
,
July 2006 in “Experimental Dermatology” This review discusses the role of the sonic hedgehog pathway in skin development and cancer, highlighting its potential as a target for chemoprevention and treatment; it reports no new findings.
9 citations
,
May 2023 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy” This study found that mesenchymal stem cell treatment alleviated atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in a mouse model by modulating immune and inflammatory responses, with gene expression changes suggesting pathways for potential personalized treatment approaches.
4 citations
,
January 2024 in “The Scientific World JOURNAL” This paper reviews the molecular mechanisms involved in hair follicle development, highlighting their potential impact on human health and well-being, and discusses advancements in treating hair loss, enhancing wound healing, and developing cosmetic treatments.
February 2026 in “Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications” This study identifies a specific cell population, PDGFRα+/Sca1+/CD34+ mesenchymal cells, which play a crucial role in regenerating hair follicles by promoting the downgrowth phase of the hair cycle, offering insights into organ morphogenesis and stem cell niches essential for adult hair regeneration.
June 2025 in “Theranostics” This study found that exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells primed with rapamycin significantly enhanced hair regrowth, hair density, and hair follicle development in depilation-induced mice compared to controls, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for hair loss.
April 2017 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study suggests that dermal Wnt/β-catenin activation timing is crucial for hair follicle initiation, with potential non-cell autonomous regulation of dermal condensate size.
19 citations
,
January 2013 in “Frontiers in Neuroanatomy” This study demonstrates a method using intravital imaging to observe sensory hair-cell development and regeneration in zebrafish, which may facilitate assays for drug discovery related to aural function preservation.
9 citations
,
March 2013 in “Expert opinion on biological therapy” This article reviews recent research on adult epidermal stem cells, discussing their properties and potential for reprogramming into patient-specific therapies, and emphasizes the need for further development while minimizing cancer risk.
13 citations
,
March 2017 in “Genomics” This study reported that pathways related to apoptosis, cell proliferation, and WNT signaling might be key drivers of hair loss in androgenetic alopecia, guiding potential targets for therapy development.
March 2026 in “Cell Death Discovery” In this comprehensive review, researchers examine the p63 gene's crucial role in skin development and pathology, highlighting its regulation of cell processes and its potential therapeutic implications for disorders like ectodermal dysplasia.
April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that LSD1 is crucial for embryonic skin barrier formation in mice, revealing its significant role in epidermal development and suggesting its potential as a target in skin diseases with barrier defects.
9 citations
,
May 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study identifies novel subpopulations of human epidermal melanocytes and specific transcriptional programs that differ from model organisms, providing insights into melanoma dedifferentiation.
3 citations
,
February 2017 in “Archives of Medical Science” This study found that finasteride treatment in male rats may lead to changes in connexin 43 expression in the testes of their offspring, potentially affecting spermatogenesis.
3 citations
,
May 2018 in “European Journal of Dermatology” Photodynamic therapy may not work for erythroplasia of Queyrat and could lead to invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
August 2025 in “Animal nutrition” This study found that supplementing with 1.5% α-ketoglutaric acid significantly improved the performance, hair follicle density, and antioxidant capacity in Rex rabbits, potentially by enhancing the Wnt signaling pathway and reducing amino acid catabolism.
June 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” In this study using a mouse model, researchers found that expressing Lef1 in dermal fibroblasts may enhance skin regeneration without affecting normal development.
1 citations
,
December 2023 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study found that manipulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in embryonic mammary glands impacted their development, with high activity levels hindering branching and potentially redirecting cells toward hair follicle identity instead of mammary tissue.