Induction of hair regrowth in the alopecia site of IFN-gamma knockout mice by allografting and IFN-gamma injection into the transplantation site.
We previously demonstrated that around 6 weeks of age most of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)(-/-) but none of the IFN-gamma(+/+) C57BL/6 mice began to lose hair in their dorsal or occipital areas or both and that a single s.c. injection of IFN-gamma into IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 3 but not at 8 weeks of age (or later) could protect all the mice from alopecia. Here, we report hair regrowth in the alopecia site of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 8 weeks of age (or later) by the combination of IFN-gamma and allografting. Skin or tumor allografting and IFN-gamma injections into the transplantation site induced hair regrowth in the alopecia site of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 8-66 weeks of age, whereas IFN-gamma injections into the hairless site or allografting alone was ineffective in causing the hair regrowth. Histologic findings showed that the hair cycle in the region of alopecia of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice was blocked at the anagen stage and that in the IFN-gamma(-/-) mice treated with IFN-gamma and allografting, the cycle was at the telogen stage. The therapeutic effects were maintained for >1 year.
D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D012038:Regeneration; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D007371:Interferon-gamma