Modelling Human Hair Follicles-Lessons from Animal Models and Beyond
- PMID: 38785794
- PMCID: PMC11117913
- DOI: 10.3390/biology13050312
Modelling Human Hair Follicles-Lessons from Animal Models and Beyond
Abstract
The hair follicle is a specialized appendage of the skin that is critical for multiple functions, including thermoregulation, immune surveillance, and sebum production. Mammals are born with a fixed number of hair follicles that develop embryonically. Postnatally, these hair follicles undergo regenerative cycles of regression and growth that recapitulate many of the embryonic signaling pathways. Furthermore, hair cycles have a direct impact on skin regeneration in homeostasis, cutaneous wound healing, and disease conditions such as alopecia. Here, we review the current knowledge of hair follicle formation during embryonic development and the post-natal hair cycle, with an emphasis on the molecular signaling pathways underlying these processes. We then discuss efforts to capitalize on the field's understanding of in vivo mechanisms to bioengineer hair follicles or hair-bearing skin in vitro and how such models may be further improved to develop strategies for hair regeneration.
Keywords: hair follicle development; human hair models; signaling pathways.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Figures
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