Novel application of layered expression scanning for proteomic profiling of plucked hair follicles.
BACKGROUND
There is a need for a technology that can quantitatively assay multiple proteins from a single hair follicle while preserving the morphology of the follicle. For proteomic profiling, the technology should be less labor intensive, with a higher throughput, more quantitative and more reproducible than immunohistochemistry.


OBJECTIVE
To test the ability of a novel method, layered expression scanning of hair (LES-hair) to detect the levels and localization of proteins in plucked hair follicles.


METHODS
LES-hair was used to assay proteins in the plucked hair follicle.


RESULTS
LES-hair detected differential expression of proteins within discrete regions of the plucked hair follicle. These proteins included cleaved caspase 3, Ki-67 and the phosphorylated forms of c-Kit, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.


CONCLUSIONS
LES-hair provides a research tool for studying the basic biology of plucked hair follicles and has potential clinical applications such as monitoring treatment of alopecia or using plucked hair follicles as a surrogate tissue to monitor pharmacodynamic effects of targeted cancer therapies.
Traicoff
June L
JL
20/20 GeneSystems Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Baibakov
Galina
G
Biesecker
Greg
G
Richardson
Frank
F
Ramesh
Arun
A
Galperin
Mikhail M
MM
Iwata
Kenneth K
KK
Knezevic
Vladimir
V
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D046508:Culture Techniques; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011506:Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D066246:ErbB Receptors