Chapters authored
Perspectives of Alopecia behind the Regulation of Foxn1 Gene Exposes the Human Nude Phenotype
The hair follicle (HF) is remarkable for its dynamic structure and one of the most prominent mini organs of the skin. The most visible end product formed by the hair follicle known as “hair shaft”- a tissue with a highly keratinized protein. Therefore, alopecia or baldness issue largely depends on the equilibrium between keratinocyte growth and differentiation of the HF. However, molecular nature in mice, rats, and humans, loss of transcription factor Foxn1 the keratinization processes is significantly impaired. Hence, this nude gene lack of function makes very similar hair pattern baldness in both human and nude mice (Foxn1nu/Foxn1nu). Thus highlighting the usefulness of mouse mutants and mouse genomics as a research tool for better molecular controls of human hair biology. To enhance research efforts of Foxn1 target gene regulation and the pharmacological manipulation of the nude phenotype are important open questions for promising research strategies related with Foxn1 biology. Taken together these issues may open the discovery of the investigative dermatology that promises the controls of epithelial differentiation in mammalian skin.
Part of the book: Alopecia