Cell Kinetics of the Human Anagen Hair Follicle

Abstract

Anagen hair follicles obtained from both healthy (n = 7) and uninvolved psoriatic (n = 4) scalps were segmentally analyzed for proliferative activity using DNA flow cytometry. Hair follicle kinetics were almost equal in either group except for the infundibular portion which exhibited significant increase of S-phase values in psoriatic patients. Maximum proliferation was disclosed within the bulbar segment. This study confirms that cell kinetics behavior of hair follicles from uninvolved scalp of psoriatics compared with those from healthy scalps is altered in the infundibular portion only.

A Morphometric and Histologic Study of the Scalp in Psoriasis

“…More recent data based on flow cytometric studies have shown altered cell kinetics only in the infundibular portions of the follicle. 3 Morphological studies of the differentiated products of hair matrix epithelium in psoriasis, ie, the cuticular layers, the inner sheath layers, and the hair shaft, have documented only minor morphologi¬ cal changes in the hair shaft cuticle4 and, of particu¬ lar interest, thinner hair shafts.45…”