title: Immunolocalization of β-catenin and Lef-1 during postnatal hair follicle development in mice.
abstract: It is well recognized that the Wnt pathway, in which β-catenin and Lef-1 are important factors, is associated with many physiological processes, including embryogenesis and postnatal development. The Wnt pathway also plays a critical role in the development of skin. It regulates the formation of the dorsal dermis and epidermal appendages in the skin and the activity of epithelial stem cells. In this study, we investigated the presence and localization of β-catenin and Lef-1 in murine hair follicles through the first postnatal month, which encompasses the first hair cycle in mice, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that β-catenin and Lef-1 are expressed during all stages in a hair cycle, most strongly in the anagen and weakly in the catagen and telogen phases. The results also suggest that the β-catenin-Lef-1 complex may regulate hair follicle cycling. This process will be of considerable interest to future studies.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiu-Ju
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jun-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lin-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Chang-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Tian-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C497574:Lef1 protein, mouse; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D051176:beta Catenin