Wnt Signaling through the [beta]-Catenin Pathway Is Sufficient to Maintain, but Not Restore, Anagen-Phase Characteristics of Dermal Papilla Cells

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 122; no. 2; p. 239
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Hidenao, Morgan, Bruce A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Limited 01-02-2004
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.0022-202X.2004.22224.x

Dermal papilla cells of the hair follicle can be maintained in an active, hair-inducing state in vitro when cocultured with cells secreting Wnt3a. By inducing cultured dermal papilla cells to secrete Wnt themselves, we demonstrate that this activity is a direct effect of Wnt signaling to dermal papilla cells. We further demonstrate that the effects of Wnt3a are exerted through activation of the beta-catenin signal transduction pathway and do not require alternative Wnt transduction cascades. Once dermal papilla cells have lost hair-inducing properties in vitro, neither treatment with Wnt nor expression of a truncated and activating form of beta-catenin is sufficient to restore these properties to the cultured cells.