title: Non-apoptotic role for caspase-7 in hair follicles and the surrounding tissue.
abstract: Hair follicles are unique organs undergoing regular cycles of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The final step of apoptosis is, in general, mediated by executioner caspases comprising caspase-3, -6 and -7. Despite their commonly accepted apoptotic function, executioner caspases also participate in non-apoptotic processes. In the present study, we investigated activation (cleavage) of caspase-7 in mouse hair follicles and surrounding tissue during embryonic development into adulthood. Casp7 (-/-) mice were examined to understand the effect of caspase-7 deficiency in the skin. The activated form of caspase-7 was observed during embryonic hair follicle development, as well as in the first hair cycle. In general, activation of caspase-7 did not correlate with apoptosis and activation of caspase-3, except during physiological hair follicle regression. Notably, cleaved caspase-7 was observed in mast cells and its deficiency in the adult skin resulted in increased mast cell number. Our study shows for the first time activated caspase-7 in hair follicles and mast cells and indicates its non-apoptotic roles in the skin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS, v.v.i., Veveri 97, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic, 211413@mail.muni.cz.
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vesela
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svandova
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: Abigail S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandenabeele
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matalova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015870:Gene Expression; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D021381:Protein Transport; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7; D020169:Caspases