Inducible, reversible hair loss in transgenic mice.
Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss. Although the morphological changes associated with telogen effluvium have been well characterized, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown, and no animal models have been developed. We report here that inducible transgenic mice expressing high levels of the transcription factor, tTA (tetracycline transactivator), plus a reporter luciferase gene, show a reversible hair loss phenotype. Skin of these mice exhibits an increase in the number of hair follicles at the telogen phase, but a decreased number of follicles at the anagen phase. These changes resemble skin pathology seen in patients with telogen effluvium, which suggests that the inducible transgenic mice may be useful as a model for this disorder. Moreover, since overexpression of several other transgenes failed to cause skin pathology, the present findings also indicate types of molecular abnormalities that may cause reversible hair loss.
Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06508, USA.
Jingshan
J
Chen
Max B
MB
Kelz
Guoqi
G
Zeng
Cathy
C
Steffen
Penny E
PE
Shockett
Gordon
G
Terwilliger
David G
DG
Schatz
Eric J
EJ
Nestler
D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015534:Trans-Activators; D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline