NF-κB Participates in Mouse Hair Cycle Control and Plays Distinct Roles in the Various Pelage Hair Follicle Types

Abstract

The transcription factor NF-κB controls key features of hair follicle (HF) development, but the role of NF-κB in adult HF cycle regulation remains obscure. Using NF-κB reporter mouse models, strong NF-κB activity was detected in the secondary hair germ of late telogen and early anagen HFs, suggesting a potential role for NF-κB in HF stem/progenitor cell activation during anagen induction. At mid-anagen, NF-κB activity was observed in the inner root sheath and unilaterally clustered in the HF matrix, which indicates that NF-κB activity is also involved in hair fiber morphogenesis during HF cycling. A mouse model with inducible NF-κB suppression in the epithelium revealed pelage hair-type-dependent functions of NF-κB in cycling HFs. NF-κB participates in telogen-anagen transition in awl and zigzag HFs, and is required for zigzag hair bending and guard HF cycling. Interestingly, zigzag hair shaft bending depends on noncanonical NF-κB signaling, which previously has only been associated with lymphoid cell biology. Furthermore, loss of guard HF cycling suggests that in this particular hair type, NF-κB is indispensable for stem cell activation, maintenance, and/or growth.

Analyses of histological and transcriptome differences in the skin of short-hair and long-hair rabbits

“…FGF5, a member of the FGF family, is the leading candidate for hair length variation, and it is considered a regulator determining the duration of active hair growth (anagen) and the time of hair follicle regression (catagen) [20–22]. Recent studies have showed that VEGFR-2 and transcription factor NF-κB are involved in hair cycle regulation and NF-κB is indispensable for hair follicle stem cell activation, maintenance, and/or growth in mice [23, 24].…”

Expression Profiling and Functional Analysis of Circular RNAs in Inner Mongolian Cashmere Goats Hair Follicles

“…Ocu-miR-205 can promote the transition of Rex rabbit hair follicles from the growing stage to a degenerative quiescent stage by regulating the expression of related genes and proteins in Notch, BMP and other signal pathways,changing the hair density [49]. Krieger et alused mice model to study the regulation of the NF-kb signal pathway in the hair follicle cycle, and found that the NF-kb signal pathway is essential for the growth and activation of hair follicle stem cells [50].…”

Stem cell‐intrinsic mechanisms regulating adult hair follicle homeostasis

“…However, HFs lacking NF-kB activity do not become growth arrested and in fact progress into anagen, albeit in a delayed manner. 106 Thus, Gata6 may have other downstream mechanisms contributing to HG activation and progenitor expansion that remain unknown.…”