Versican targeting by RNA interference suppresses aggregative growth of dermal papilla cells.
BACKGROUND
Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are specialized fibroblasts found in the hair follicle papilla, which are associated with the development and cycle regulation of hair follicles (HFs). DPCs exhibit a multilayer aggregative growth character, which is closely related to induction of HF formation. Versican, a large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan and one of the major components of the extracellular matrix, is involved in the formation of HF.


METHODS
To confirm the relationship between versican and the aggregative growth of DPCs, we first induced and established an aggregative cell model in DPCs in vitro, with cells taken to passage 8. Simultaneously, aggregative passage 2 DPCs and nonaggregative passage 8 DPCs were selected as parallel controls. RNA interference (RNAi) targeted to versican was used in passage 2 DPCs using a lentiviral vector. Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and western blotting were used to assay the expression of versican in DPCs.


RESULTS
RNAi targeted to versican efficiently suppressed the aggregative growth of passage 2 DPCs, and the inhibitory effect was significant 3 days after RNAi treatment. The mRNA and protein levels of versican were also downregulated in passage 2 DPCs, and were lower than levels in nonaggregative passage 8 DPCs. Notably, the aggregative growth of nonaggregative passage 8 DPCs was restored after induction in a 1 : 1 v/v mixture of fresh DMEM and medium recycled from a previous passage.


CONCLUSIONS
Versican is a key gene for the aggregative growth of DPCs, and might be significant in the regeneration of HF.
Feng
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Research Institute of Wound Healing and Tissue Engineering of Chongqing, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yang
G
G
Wu
J
J
D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D053675:Versicans