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Expression and function of glycogen synthase kinase-3 in human hair follicles

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Abstract

β-Catenin is involved in the hair follicle morphogenesis and stem cell differentiation, and inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) increases β-catenin concentration in the cytoplasm. To examine the effects of GSK-3 inhibition on the hair follicle epithelium, we first examined the expression of GSK-3 in plucked human hair follicles by RT-PCR and found GSK-3 expression in hair follicles. Western blotting with a GSK-3β-specific antibody, Y174, also demonstrated GSK-3β expression in the follicles. Moreover, GSK-3β immunostaining with Y174 showed that GSK-3β colocalized with hair follicle bulge markers. Contrary to GSK-3β, GSK-3α was widely expressed throughout the follicles when immunostained with a specific antibody, EP793Y. We then investigated the influence of GSK-3 inhibition. A GSK-3 inhibitor, BIO, promoted the growth of human outer root sheath cells, which could be cultured for up to four passages. The BIO-treated cells exhibited smaller and more undifferentiated morphology than control cells. Moreover, in organ culture of plucked human hair, outer root sheath cells in the middle of a hair follicle proliferated when cultured with BIO. These results indicate that GSK-3β is expressed in hair bulge stem cells and BIO promotes the growth of ORS cells, possibly by regulating the GSK-3 signaling pathway.

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Abbreviations

BIO:

(2′Z, 3′E)-6-Bromoindirubin-3′-oxime

CK:

Cytokeratin

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium

DP:

Dermal papilla

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

GSK-3:

Glycogen synthase kinase-3

HF:

Hair follicle

ORS:

Outer root sheath

SCs:

Stem cells

TA:

Transit amplifying

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hair Clinic Reve-21 Corporation, 2-1-61 Shiromi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-6122, Japan

    Koichi Yamauchi

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo-motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8555, Japan

    Akira Kurosaka

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  1. Koichi Yamauchi
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  2. Akira Kurosaka
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Correspondence to Akira Kurosaka.

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Yamauchi, K., Kurosaka, A. Expression and function of glycogen synthase kinase-3 in human hair follicles. Arch Dermatol Res 302, 263–270 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-009-0987-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-009-0987-x

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