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Patterning skin by planar cell polarity: the multi‐talented hair designer
Author(s) -
Chen Jiang,
Chuong ChengMing
Publication year - 2012
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.1600-0625.2011.01425.x
Subject(s) - hair follicle , morphogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , context (archaeology) , ciliogenesis , biology , regeneration (biology) , cilium , polarity (international relations) , neuroscience , cell , gene , genetics , paleontology
Abstract: In mammals, the skin can form complex global and local patterns to meet diverse functional requirements in different parts of the body. To date, the fundamental principles that underlie skin patterning remain poorly understood because of the involvement of multiple interacting processes. Genes involved in the planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling pathway, which is capable of polarizing cells within the planar plane of an epithelium, can control the orientation and differentiation of hair follicles, underlining their involvement in skin pattern formation. Here, we summarize recent progress that has been made to understand the PCP signalling pathway and its function in mammalian skin, including its role in hair follicle morphogenesis, ciliogenesis and wound healing. We argue that dissecting PCP signalling in the context of hair follicle formation might reveal many as‐yet‐undiscovered functions for PCP in the development, homeostasis and regeneration of skin.