Premium
In vivo cytokine and receptor gene expression during the rat hair growth cycle
Author(s) -
Little Julic C.,
Redwood Katherine L.,
Granger Stewart P.,
Jenkins Gail
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.1996.tb00118.x
Subject(s) - hair follicle , hair cycle , biology , dermal papillae , cytokine , growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , receptor , fgf10 , endocrinology , medicine , fibroblast growth factor , immunology , gene , genetics
A number of cytokines have previously been localised within the developing and adult hair follicle, however, the role they play in producing a mature hair follicle remains unknown. In an attempt to identify dermal papilla specific cytokines and thus those that may have an important controlling role, cytokine gene expression profiles, obtained by reverse transcriplase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), were compared between whole anagen rat hair follicles, passage 2 dermal papillae (a cell type with hair inductive capacity), and footpad fibroblasts (a non‐hair inducing cell type). Based on this qualitative data, we were unable to identify a dermal papilla specific gene. The analysis of the pattern and timing of cytokine gene expression during the hair cycle is likely to be more informative. A semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR technique was therefore developed for studying trends in the level of in vivo expression of the following cytokines and their receptors from early anagen to early catagen in the rat hair growth cycle: insulin‐like growth factor I, transforming growth factor β1, tumour necrosis factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. These genes were found to be differentially expressed and this was correlated with their possible functions in controlling the hair growth cycle, providing valuable insights into the role of cytokines in regulating the hair growth process.