title: Sox9 Increases the Proliferation and Colony-forming Activity of Outer Root Sheath Cells Cultured In Vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β-catenin plays a pivotal role in hair follicle development and hair growth cycle.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify β-catenin-regulated genes in cultured human hair outer root sheath (ORS) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary cultured ORS cells were transduced with recombinant adenovirus expressing N-terminal truncated β-catenin (constitutive active form), and β-catenin-regulated genes were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overexpression of the constitutively active form of β-catenin led to induction of Sox9 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. To investigate the potential role of Sox9, we made the recombinant adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein-tagged Sox9, and then transduced into cultured ORS cells. Interestingly, Sox9 induced the expression of keratin 15, increased the proliferation of ORS cells in vitro, and enhanced colony-forming activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Sox9 is a β-catenin-regulated gene in ORS cells, and has potential importance in the regulation of hair follicle homeostasis.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Research Institute for Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Ge
authors: G
authors: Shi
authors: Kyung-Cheol
authors: KC
authors: Sohn
authors: Soo-Yeon
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: Eun-Kyoung
authors: EK
authors: Ryu
authors: Yeon-Suk
authors: YS
authors: Park
authors: Young
authors: Y
authors: Lee
authors: Young-Joon
authors: YJ
authors: Seo
authors: Jeung-Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Chang Deok
authors: CD
authors: Kim