title: Interleukin-6 cytokine family member oncostatin M is a hair-follicle-expressed factor with hair growth inhibitory properties.
abstract: The activation of receptor complexes containing glycoprotein 130 (gp130) identifies the interleukin (IL)-6 cytokine family. We examined members of this family for their expression and activity in hair follicles. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction using mRNA derived from microdissected, anagen-stage human hair follicles and comparison to non-follicular skin epithelium revealed higher levels of IL-6 (15.5-fold) and oncostatin M (OSM, 3.4-fold) in hair follicles. In contrast, expression of all mRNAs coding for IL-6 cytokine family receptors was reduced. Immunohistology suggested expression of OSM, gp130, leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFr) and IL-11r in the hair follicle root sheaths and dermal papilla, while IL-11, IL-6r and OSMr were expressed in root sheaths alone. IL-6 was expressed in the dermal papilla while cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and LIF were not observed. OSM and to a lesser extent CT-1 exhibited a dose-dependent growth inhibition capacity on human hair follicles in vitro. OSM and CT-1 incubated with agarose beads and injected subcutaneously at 1 mug per mouse into telogen skin of 65-day-old mice revealed no capacity to induce anagen hair growth. In contrast, injection of 65-day-old mice in which anagen had been induced by hair plucking revealed a moderate hair growth inhibitory capacity for OSM, but no significant effect for CT-1. The data identify OSM as a modulator of hair follicle growth and suggest other family members may also have some degree of hair growth inhibitory effect. In principle, increased expression of some IL-6 cytokine family members in cutaneous inflammation might contribute to the promotion of hair loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kissling
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freyschmidt-Paul
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McElwee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008875:Middle Aged; D053683:Oncostatin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053683:Oncostatin M; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; C092073:cardiotrophin 1