Genes for a range of growth factors and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors are expressed by isolated human hair follicles.
The mRNA expressions of various growth regulatory molecules in single human anagen hair follicles were analysed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Approximately 370 hair follicles were isolated from 20 normal individuals, and 0.90 +/- 0.34 microgram (mean +/- SD) total RNA was extracted per whole hair follicle. The mRNAs of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-1, FGF-2, FGF-5, FGF-7, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, TGF-beta 1, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, tumour suppressor gene p53 and high sulphur protein were detected in most or all of the examined hair follicles per target gene. In contrast, none of the mRNAs of FGF-3, FGF-4, FGF-6, FGF-9 and IGF-II was detected, and those of TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 were detected in only a limited number of the examined hair follicles. Among cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, the mRNAs of p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 were expressed in almost all the hair follicles, while those of p15INK4B and p16INK4A were not detected. These results suggest that both positive and negative factors for the proliferation and differentiation of follicular epithelial cells coexist in a human anagen hair follicle.
Mitsui
S
S
Kao Biological Science Laboratories, Tochigi, Japan.
Ohuchi
A
A
Hotta
M
M
Tsuboi
R
R
Ogawa
H
H
D002453:Cell Cycle; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases