title: Neuroendocrinology of the hair follicle: principles and clinical perspectives.
abstract: The human hair follicle (HF) is an exquisitely hormone-sensitive mini-organ that undergoes cyclical remodeling. It is also a source and target of numerous neurohormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters that regulate HF growth, pigmentation, remodeling, immune status, stem cell biology, and energy metabolism. Indeed, organ-cultured human scalp HFs can be utilized to identify 'novel' clinically relevant functions of major neuromediators. This is pertinently illustrated by the discoveries of: (i) thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) as a hair growth and pigmentation stimulator; (ii) TRH and thyrotropin (TSH) as potent promoters of mitochondrial activity and regulators of keratin expression; and (iii) prolactin as an epithelial stem cell modulator. Thus, HF neuroendocrinology affords insights well beyond hair growth and dermatoendocrinology, uncovering new translationally relevant neuroendocrinology principles and novel therapeutic targets.
authors: Dermatology Research Centre, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: ralf.paus@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Paus
authors: Dermatology Research Centre, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.
authors: Ewan A
authors: EA
authors: Langan
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Vidali
authors: Department of Dermatology, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
authors: Yuval
authors: Y
authors: Ramot
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
authors: Bogi
authors: B
authors: Andersen
mesh_terms: D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009452:Neuroendocrinology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007633:Keratins; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin
keywords: CRH; TRH; TSH; mitochondria; prolactin; skin