THSD4 promotes hair growth by facilitating dermal papilla and hair matrix interactions.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Aging causes striking changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in hair follicles, which has a profound influence on hair growth. How the ECM of dermal papilla (DP), the master regulator of hair growth, changes during aging remains largely unknown. Methods: Herovici staining, Western Blotting and immunofluorescence were used to assess DP ECM and protein expression in hair follicles. Bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing were used to analyze gene expression and predict upstream and downstream regulators of target genes. Skin organoid and mouse models were used for functional validation of molecular mechanisms. Results: Aged follicle DP shows drastic depletion of ECM in which Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain Containing 4 (Thsd4) is highly downregulated. THSD4 is

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11905124 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature