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Impaired hair placode formation with reduced expression of hair follicle‐related genes in mice lacking Lgr4
Author(s) -
Mohri Yasuaki,
Kato Shigeki,
Umezawa Akihiro,
Okuyama Ryuhei,
Nishimori Katsuhiko
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21639
Subject(s) - biology , hair follicle , endocrinology , medicine , follicle , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
We observed that Lgr4 K5 KO mice had sparse head hair and focal alopecia behind their ears, as observed in tabby ( Eda ) and downless ( Edar ) mice, which are models of the human genetic disorder hypohidrotic (anhidrotic) ectodermal dysplasia (HED). Lgr4 ‐deficient mice showed partial impairment in hair follicle development with reduced expression of Edar , Lef1 , and Shh , which were essential for hair follicle morphogenesis, in the epidermis. Immunohistochemical analysis of Lgr4 −/− mice epidermis using shh antibody showed reduced numbers of hair placodes, and we also detected higher phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, which is required to suppress normal hair follicle induction. We suspected that Lgr4 might be a novel gene class regulating the development of hair follicles. Developmental Dynamics 237:2235–2242, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.