TY - JOUR
T1 - Lack of Collagen VI Promotes Wound-Induced Hair Growth
AU - Chen, Peiwen
AU - Cescon, Matilde
AU - Bonaldo, Paolo
N1 - Funding Information:
We are grateful to Raimund Wagener (Cologne, Germany) for providing α3(VI) collagen antibodies, and to Diana Corallo and Rina Venerando for helpful hints. This work was supported by grants from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (RBAP11Z3YA_003), and the University of Padova Strategic Projects. PC is supported by a fellowship from Cariparo Foundation.
PY - 2015/10/14
Y1 - 2015/10/14
N2 - Collagen VI is an extracellular matrix molecule that is abundantly expressed in the skin. However, the role of collagen VI in hair follicle growth is unknown. Here, we show that collagen VI is strongly deposited in hair follicles, and is markedly upregulated by skin wounding. Lack of collagen VI in Col6a1 -/- mice delays hair cycling and growth under physiological conditions, but promotes wound-induced hair regrowth without affecting skin regeneration. Conversely, addition of purified collagen VI rescues the abnormal wound-induced hair regrowth in Col6a1 -/- mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that the increased wound-induced hair regrowth of Col6a1 -/- mice is triggered by activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and is abolished by inhibition of this pathway. These findings highlight the essential relationships between extracellular matrix (ECM) and hair follicle regeneration, and suggest that collagen VI could be a potential therapeutic target for hair loss and other skin-related diseases.
AB - Collagen VI is an extracellular matrix molecule that is abundantly expressed in the skin. However, the role of collagen VI in hair follicle growth is unknown. Here, we show that collagen VI is strongly deposited in hair follicles, and is markedly upregulated by skin wounding. Lack of collagen VI in Col6a1 -/- mice delays hair cycling and growth under physiological conditions, but promotes wound-induced hair regrowth without affecting skin regeneration. Conversely, addition of purified collagen VI rescues the abnormal wound-induced hair regrowth in Col6a1 -/- mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that the increased wound-induced hair regrowth of Col6a1 -/- mice is triggered by activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and is abolished by inhibition of this pathway. These findings highlight the essential relationships between extracellular matrix (ECM) and hair follicle regeneration, and suggest that collagen VI could be a potential therapeutic target for hair loss and other skin-related diseases.
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U2 - 10.1038/jid.2015.187
DO - 10.1038/jid.2015.187
M3 - Article
C2 - 25989472
AN - SCOPUS:84941422909
SN - 0022-202X
VL - 135
SP - 2358
EP - 2367
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 10
ER -