132 citations
,
February 2002 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” This study demonstrated that HOXC13 directly influences hair keratin gene expression by binding to specific DNA motifs, suggesting its role in early hair follicle differentiation.
114 citations
,
May 2001 in “Development” This study found that overexpressing the Hoxc13 gene in mice causes hair loss and a skin condition similar to ichthyosis, identifying several gene targets that may regulate hair growth.
74 citations
,
October 2012 in “The American Journal of Human Genetics” This study found that loss-of-function mutations in the HOXC13 gene cause autosomal-recessive pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia, emphasizing its role in hair and nail development.
68 citations
,
December 2010 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study suggests a regulatory model where HOXC13 activates Foxn1, affecting hair and nail differentiation, supported by similarities in Hoxc13(tm1Mrc) and Foxn1(nu) mice phenotypes and gene expression patterns.
65 citations
,
July 2006 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry” This study found that overexpression of Hoxc13 in GC13 mouse models affects hair follicle differentiation by interacting with medulla-specific genes, particularly Foxq1, suggesting a regulatory pathway for medulla differentiation.
47 citations
,
September 2004 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” This study provides evidence supporting a regulatory relationship between the transcriptional regulator Hoxc13 and Krtap16 genes, which are crucial for proper hair growth in mice.
27 citations
,
December 2005 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology” This study found that while malignant pilomatricomas maintain some keratin expression patterns seen in benign counterparts, they notably express additional epithelial keratins, potentially influencing tumor calcification.
22 citations
,
July 2012 in “Journal of integrative agriculture/Journal of Integrative Agriculture” This study found that Hoxc13 gene expression, influenced by melatonin, was associated with hair follicle activity in Cashmere goats, with in vitro evidence suggesting effects on genes relevant to follicle development.
17 citations
,
August 2018 in “BMC Genomics” The researchers found that HOXC13 regulates different keratin proteins in a mixed manner, with certain SNPs impeding this regulation, while also demonstrating negative-feedback by HOXC13 and positive regulation by LEF1 and melatonin on the HOXC13 promoter.
12 citations
,
April 2009 in “Agricultural sciences in China/Agricultural Sciences in China” This study found that during hair follicle morphogenesis in embryos, the expression pattern of the Hoxc13 gene and skin thickness show similar trends, suggesting possible regulatory mechanisms within Hoxc13 intron regions.
9 citations
,
June 2014 in “Molecular biology reports” KAP9.2 and Hoxc13 genes are important for cashmere growth and vary in activity during different stages.
7 citations
,
June 2015 in “The anatomical record” This study in Hexi cashmere goats found that secondary follicle activity increases with time, and Hoxc13 expression varies significantly across different growth stages, suggesting a role in follicle activity.
5 citations
,
April 2022 in “Genes” In Angora rabbits, overexpression of miR-129-5p was found to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of dermal papilla cells, highlighting its role in hair follicle development by targeting HOXC13.
June 2026 in “Communications Biology” In this study, researchers found that the cornification process in the nuptial pads of Xenopus frogs involves the expression of the type II hair keratin homolog, krt59, and is regulated by the transcription factor hoxc13, showing similarities to mammalian hair evolution.
May 2026 in “Research Square” This research reports that the polyG fragment within the Hoxc13 protein alters its gene regulatory functions, which could have influenced mammalian hair evolution by affecting pathways related to hair follicle development.
January 2024 in “International journal of molecular sciences” This study found that higher expression of the Hoxc13 gene in specific areas of hair follicles is associated with longer wool length in Gansu alpine fine-wool sheep.
April 2023 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This research suggests that hair keratins evolved from claw keratins in a hairless ancestor, with Hoxc13 controlling their expression in tetrapods, evidenced by the knockout of Hoxc13 hindering claw formation in Xenopus tropicalis frogs.
18 citations
,
November 2005 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” February 2026 in “Pediatric Dermatology” September 2025 in “Genes” In this study, researchers reported that specific gene polymorphisms in Jiangnan cashmere goats, particularly SNPs in the HOXC13 and WNT4 genes, were significantly associated with key economic traits like birth weight and yearling weight, providing molecular markers for breeding and enhancing economic trait stability.
29 citations
,
January 2021 in “G3 Genes Genomes Genetics” This study identified a 195 bp duplication in crested chickens that causes large crest feathers and can be associated with cerebral hernia in some breeds, but not all.
25 citations
,
November 2020 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” This study found that the HoxC gene cluster plays a critical role in the development of ectodermal organs, including hair and nails, with mammalian-specific enhancers increasing transcription levels during development.
3 citations
,
March 2025 in “Science Advances” This study found that the unique crest feather formation in Polish chickens is driven by a 195-bp duplication in the HoxC10 gene region, which alters gene expression by modifying the genomic structure, suggesting a mechanism for diverse integumentary appendages in birds.
June 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study found that the HoxC gene cluster is crucial for the development of hair and nails in mice, with key regulation by two mammalian-specific enhancers.
305 citations
,
December 2000 in “The EMBO Journal” Inhibiting Bmp signaling disrupts hair growth and differentiation.
245 citations
,
January 1998 in “Genes & Development” This study found that Hoxc13 mutations in mice cause defects in hair, nail, and tongue structures, with the most noticeable issue being brittle hair leading to alopecia.
155 citations
,
August 2003 in “Journal Of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular And Developmental Evolution” This review discusses the conserved molecular mechanisms controlling hair follicle development and cycling and suggests they may also apply to other ectodermal derivatives, like teeth and feathers, but it reports no new results.
132 citations
,
August 2008 in “Development” This research found that Dlx3 plays a central role in hair formation and regeneration, with its absence leading to alopecia through disrupted differentiation and signaling pathways.
128 citations
,
March 1989 in “Experimental Cell Research” Hoxc13 is important for hair and tongue development by controlling hair keratin genes.
127 citations
,
March 2016 in “PLoS ONE” This study found that transcriptome profiling of cashmere goat skin revealed key genes and pathways involved in hair follicle initiation, differentiation, and maturation, which are critical for improving fleece production.