TIGP (BIO)—Hair regeneration–the crosstalk between hair follicle stem cells and the environment

Abstract

For most mammals, hair constitutes the first line of defense, protecting and insulating the body from external insults. When the skin is injured or the hair coat is compromised, a prompt transition from the resting to the growing phase is essential for the timely regeneration of this critical protective barrier. Hair follicle regeneration is driven by epithelial hair follicle stem cells (eHFSCs), whose activity is tightly regulated by their niche. To adapt to an ever-changing external environment and to respond to environmental insults, the eHFSC niche must be equipped with the ability to sense these changes and respond adaptively to modulate eHFSC activity according to organismal needs. Using HFSCs as a model system, I categorize eHFSC niche cells into three functional modules: signaling, sensing, and message-relaying. In this talk, I will demonstrate how these distinct modules enable eHFSCs to detect external light and temperature cues to drive hair follicle regeneration, and how they respond to skin injury to facilitate eHFSC activation by promoting metabolic communication between eHFSCs and adjacent adipocytes. Targeting these pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of alopecia.

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