Control of pelage hair follicle development and cycling by complex interactions between follistatin and activin

Abstract
SPECIFIC AIMSHair follicle (HF) morphogenesis and hair cycling are controlled by complex bidirectional ectodermal–mesenchymal interactions and are regulated by a complex balance between a wide variety of stimulatory and inhibitory growth factors. We explored the role of TGF/BMP family member, activin, and its antagonist, follistatin, in hair follicle development and cycling.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Follistatin mRNA is expressed in the hair follicle epithelium whereas activin βA expression predominates in the hair follicle mesenchymeTo ascertain whether follistatin and activin are involved in the control of hair follicle development, we first characterized the expression of follistatin and activin βA mRNA in the back skin of mice at embryonic day (E) E18.5 by in situ hybridization. Follistatin transcripts were detected in the epithelial hair placode, hair matrix, outer root sheath keratinocytes, and interfollicular epidermis whereas activin βA message was mainly visible in developing dermal papilla cells.2. Ac...
Funding Information
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Pa345/6-3)
  • National Institutes of Health (HD32067)