Hair cycle-specific expression of versican in human hair follicles.
BACKGROUND
Versican, a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan molecule, is implicated in the induction of hair morphogenesis, the initiation of hair regeneration, and the maintenance of hair growth in mouse species. In contrast, in human hair follicles, the distribution and the roles of versican remains obscure.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the implication of versican in normal human hair growth.


METHODS
Versican expression was examined by in situ hybridization (mRNA) and immunohistochemistry (protein).


RESULTS
The results clearly showed specific versican gene expression in the dermal papilla of anagen, which apparently decreased in the dermal papilla of catagen hair follicles. No specific signal was detectable in telogen hair follicles. Consistent with ISH results, versican immunoreactivity was extended over the dermal papilla of anagen hair follicles, and again, this staining diminished in the catagen phase of human hair follicles. Interestingly, versican proteins were deposited outside K15-positive epithelial cells in the bulge throughout the hair cycle. Versican immunoreactivity in the dermal papilla was almost lost in vellus-like hair follicles affected by male pattern baldness.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific expression of versican in the anagen hair follicles suggests its importance to maintain the normal growing phase of human as well as mouse.
Soma
Tsutomu
T
Shiseido Life Science Research Center, 2-12-1 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-8643, Japan. tsutomu.souma@to.shiseido.co.jp
Tajima
Masahiro
M
Kishimoto
Jiro
J
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053675:Versicans
D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; C508322:VCAN protein, human; C508323:Vcan protein, mouse; D053675:Versicans