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Overexpression of skin protein kinase C‐α in anagen hair follicles during induced growth of mouse hair
Author(s) -
Li L.F.,
Guo J.,
Gao Z.F.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01328.x
Subject(s) - hair cycle , hair follicle , protein kinase c , outer root sheath , biology , endocrinology , dermal papillae , protein kinase a , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase
Summary A role for protein kinase C (PKC)‐α has been implicated in the growth of mouse hair. Topical application of PKC activators, hair plucking, allergic contact dermatitis and skin irritation can all enhance growth of mouse hair, and a significant increase in PKC‐α level in whole mouse skin in mature anagen has been demonstrated in these processes. Overexpression of PKC‐α in anagen hair follicles has also been reported in natural growth of mouse hair. It is known that overexpression of PKC‐α is associated with the acceleration of cell growth. Therefore, we postulated that overexpression of PKC‐α in mature anagen may relate to enhancement of hair growth. The distribution of PKC‐α in hair follicles during induced growth of mouse hair has not previously been studied. In this study, hair growth in C57BL/6 mice was induced by plucking the telogen hairs on one side of the back. The undepilated contralateral side served as a control. Expression of PKC‐α in hair follicles during the hair growth cycle induced was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using cryosections and a specific polyclonal anti‐PKC‐α immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. No PKC‐α was detected in telogen hair follicles or in the hair follicles at 1 day post‐depilation, when the induced hair cycle was in early anagen. At 4 days after plucking, when the induced hair cycle was in mid‐anagen, intense staining for PKC‐α was found in hair papillae. At 10 and 17 days after depilation, when the induced hair cycle was in mature anagen and early catagen, respectively, all outer root sheath (ORS) cells and outer connective sheaths of hair follicles were stained positive. Because no PKC‐α was detected in telogen hair follicles in this study, down‐regulation of PKC‐α in early anagen could not be observed. However, consistent with our previous findings, overexpression of PKC‐α was found in mid‐anagen and mature anagen. As overexpression of PKC‐α has been shown to be associated with acceleration of cell growth, our results support the notion that PKC‐α may play an important role in growth of hair follicle cells in induced growth of hair. As PKC levels are known to increase in hyperglycaemia, overexpressed PKC‐α in mature anagen hair follicles may be related to the putative function of the ORS in mobilizing glycogen stores for anagen growth.