The amazing miniorgan: Hair follicle
TURKDERM-TURKISH ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEROLOGY, vol.48, pp.2-5, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 48
- Publication Date: 2014
- Doi Number: 10.4274/turkderm.48.s1
- Journal Name: TURKDERM-TURKISH ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEROLOGY
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Page Numbers: pp.2-5
- Keywords: Hair follicle development, hair follicle cycle, hair follicle structure, molecular control, embryonic development, signaling pathways, VITAMIN-D-RECEPTOR, STEM-CELLS, SONIC-HEDGEHOG, CYCLE, SKIN, PROGRESSION, ACTIVATION, GROWTH
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: No
Abstract
Hair is a primary characteristic of mammals, and exerts a wide range of functions including thermoregulation, physical protection, sensory activity, and social interactions. The hair shaft consists of terminally differentiated keratinocytes that are produced by the hair follicle. Hair follicle development takes place during fetal skin development and relies on tightly regulated ectodermal mesodermal interactions. Hair follicles form during embryonic development and, after birth, undergo recurrent cycling of growth (anagen), apoptosis-driven regression (catagen), and relative quiescence (telogen). As a functional mini-organ, the hair follicle develops in an environment with dynamic and alternating changes of diverse molecular signals. Our molecular understanding of hair follicle biology relies heavily on genetically engineered mouse models with abnormalities in hair structure, growth, and/or pigmentation and significant advances have been made toward the identification of key signaling pathways and the regulatory genes involved. In this review, the basic concepts of hair follicle, a mini-complex organ, biology will be presented and its importance in clinical applications will be summarized.