October 2023 in “Frontiers in endocrinology” This review investigates molecular mechanisms behind PCOS pathogenesis and discusses potential therapies, but reports no new clinical results.
October 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study constructed a comprehensive atlas of prenatal human skin, revealing that innate immune cells, such as macrophages, play a crucial role in skin morphogenesis by interacting with non-immune cells, influencing hair follicle formation and angiogenesis beyond their traditional immune functions.
September 2023 in “Nature communications” This study found that VE-cadherin and Alk1, traditionally linked to vascular functions, also play crucial roles in maintaining nerve homeostasis in mice during hair growth cycles by modulating certain cell populations.
September 2023 in “Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology” This review explores the role of JAG1 in disease treatment, highlighting the need for effective methods to deliver JAG1 in its bound form to activate NOTCH signaling for therapeutic applications in craniofacial bone loss and myocardial infarction.
March 2021 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study found that the absence of Hif-p4h-2 in specific mouse skin cells disrupted hair follicle development, leading to hair loss due to irregular keratin formation and pathway signaling.
February 2019 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study found that Prss53-mutated rabbits exhibited curved hair and skeletal dyskinesia, suggesting a link between Prss53 loss and these traits, potentially involving disrupted calcium metabolism.
July 2026 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” 117 citations
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April 2008 in “Developmental biology” This study identified that Eda-A1 unexpectedly induces placode inhibitors dkk4 and lrp4, indicating the importance of tightly regulated signaling for proper ectodermal organ development.
96 citations
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March 2007 in “Developmental biology” This study found that the Wnt inhibitor Dkk4 may play a role in regulating hair follicle development through a feedback loop with canonical Wnt signaling pathways.
37 citations
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February 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology” This study found that PDCD4 protein expression is reduced in various skin cancers compared to normal skin, suggesting its potential role in preventing or treating certain skin cancers.
1 citations
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October 2022 in “JCI insight” In this study, conditional deletion of BRD4 in OX40-expressing cells of mice led to alopecia, dermatitis, and loss of hair follicle stem cell function, revealing BRD4's role in skin inflammation and stem cell regulation.
6 citations
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January 2020 in “International journal of biological sciences” In this study, deletion of ROBO4 in mice ameliorated hair loss caused by elevated PAF levels, suggesting potential interplay with VLDLR-related pathways.
4 citations
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March 2024 in “Developmental Dynamics” In this study, researchers used conditional mouse models to show that inactivation of the Alx4 gene in specific cell lineages leads to craniofacial and limb defects without affecting postnatal survival, providing insights into Alx4's role in development and disease.
35 citations
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August 2009 in “Differentiation” This study found that transcription factors HOXC13, LEF1, and FOXN1 repress DSG4 transcription, with the Notch pathway possibly involved in maintaining DSG4 expression in hair follicles.
March 2026 in “World Rabbit Science” This study found that overexpression and knockdown of DKK4 influence genes involved in hair follicle growth and development in Angora rabbits and identified specific SNPs in DKK4 associated with wool quality, notably showing that the TT/GG haplotype combination relates to higher fibre diameters.
September 2025 in “Science Advances” This study reports that PADI4, an enzyme involved in posttranslational protein modifications, regulates progenitor cell transitions in hair follicle development by repressing transcription and interacting with translational and ribosomal processes.
September 2019 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study identifies two previously unreported pathogenic RIPK4 gene variants, suggesting a functional link with cell adhesion molecules in ectodermal dysplasias.
28 citations
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July 2008 in “Developmental Biology” This study found that the loss of Smad4 in keratinocytes reduces Dsg4 expression via disrupted BMP signaling, contributing to hair follicle degeneration and alopecia.
65 citations
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February 2018 in “The Plant Journal” This study found that PLDζ2 and NPC4 enzymes play distinct roles in lipid remodeling and root hair growth in Arabidopsis under phosphate deficiency, influencing root hair density and length in a tissue- and time-specific manner.
October 2021 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that inhibiting DPP4 during a critical period post-wounding increases hair follicle regeneration and Wnt signaling in large skin wounds.
16 citations
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May 2000 in “Endocrinology” This study identified a new gene, mrp4, in mice, which suggests it may have a unique role in the growth and development of hair follicles in the ears and tails.
April 2023 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study demonstrated that a combination of four types of honey significantly improved hair integrity, porosity, and surface roughness after exposure to UV-A and pollution stress.
2 citations
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August 2023 in “Development Genes and Evolution”
April 2023 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study concluded that KLF4 is a crucial regulator of hair follicle stem cell quiescence and may work by interacting with multiple transcription factors to control related genes.
April 2012 in “The FASEB Journal” In this study, researchers observed that knocking down the LPA 4 receptor in zebrafish embryos led to vascular and lymph vessel development abnormalities, including edema and decreased heartbeats.
39 citations
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November 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” The study concluded that fatty acid transport protein 4 in epidermal keratinocytes is crucial for maintaining normal skin structure, as its deficiency led to hyperkeratosis and epidermal barrier disruption in mice.
April 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” In this animal study, the researchers found that DPP4 plays a crucial role in scar formation and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis in mice, impacting regenerative repair.
8 citations
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July 2015 in “International Journal of Dermatology” This study reports that a homozygous A1103G mutation in DSG 4 is responsible for localized autosomal recessive hypotrichosis in a 2-year-old Chinese girl, resulting in reduced DSG 4 expression and hair defects.
This study found that Smad4 is crucial for satellite cell amplification during skeletal muscle regeneration, with aged cells exhibiting less Smad4 and reduced regenerative capability in mice.
April 2019 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that DPP4 is significantly involved in matrix deposition and fibrosis in human skin fibroblasts, although the exact functions of DPP4 remain unclear.