Contraction of the hair follicle-lining dermal sheath smooth muscle generates the forces necessary for the tissue remodelling that takes place during the regression phase of the hair growth cycle. This study reveals that endothelin signalling — from epithelial progenitors at the follicle bottleneck region to its neighbouring dermal sheath — is the main contraction-activating pathway.
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References
Lin, X., Zhu, L. & Je, J. Morphogenesis, growth cycle and molecular regulation of hair follicles. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 10, 899095 (2022). A recent review that provides an introductory overview of hair follicle development, the hair growth cycle and their molecular regulation.
Heitman, N. et al. Dermal sheath contraction powers stem cell niche relocation during hair cycle regression. Science 367, 161–166 (2020). This paper identifies the dermal sheath as a smooth muscle that contracts to drive hair follicle regression and reunite niche and stem cells for hair regrowth.
Martino, P. A., Heitman, N. & Rendl, M. The dermal sheath: an emerging component of the hair follicle stem cell niche. Exp. Dermatol. 30, 512–521 (2021). A review article that discusses dermal sheath anatomy, highlights the emerging importance of the sheath in the hair follicle stem-cell niche, and examines potential therapeutic applications in hair regeneration and wound healing.
Barton, M. & Yanagisawa, M. Endothelin: 30 years from discovery to therapy. Hypertension 74, 1232–1265 (2019). This review summarizes pivotal endothelin signalling studies, from the discovery of endothelin to its role in genetics, physiology and disease.
Fuchs, E. & Blau, H. M. Tissue stem cells: architects of their niches. Cell Stem Cell 27, 532–556 (2020). A review article that discusses how stem cells mediate tissue renewal in the skin epithelium and skeletal muscle.
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This is a summary of: Martino, P. et al. Progenitor-derived endothelin controls dermal sheath contraction for hair follicle regression. Nat. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-01065-w (2023).
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Endothelin signalling drives dermal sheath smooth muscle contraction for hair follicle regression. Nat Cell Biol 25, 220–221 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-01077-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-01077-6
