Serpins in the human hair follicle

Pamela J. Jensen, Tien Yang, Da Wen Yu, Mark S. Baker, Barbara Risse, Tung Tien Sun, Robert M. Lavker*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Proteinases and their inhibitors are very likely to function as mediators or regulators of the hair growth cycle. Very little information is currently available, however, regarding the specific inhibitors present in human hair follicles at defined stages of their growth cycle. In this study we have analyzed two proteinase inhibitors, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 and protease nexin 1, in human hair follicles using in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry. Protease nexin 1 mRNA was found only in the mesenchymal population of the hair follicle, i.e., the follicular papilla cells, during the anagen but not the catagen phase. In contrast, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 was localized to several epithelial populations in the follicle: the more differentiated cells of the infundibulum; the companion layer in anagen follicles; and the single layer of outer root sheath cells directly abutting the club hair in telogen follicles. At least some of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 in human follicles appears to be in the relaxed form, as evidenced by strong staining with an antibody that is specific for this form of the inhibitor. This suggests that plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 interacts with and is cleaved by an endogenous follicular proteinase and supports a constitutive role for this inhibitor in human follicular epithelia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)917-922
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology
Volume114
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

Funding

A grant from the National Institutes of Health to PJJ (ROI AR42998) supported this work. The authors are very grateful for the outstanding histo-technical expertise of Ms. Dorothy Campbell.

Keywords

  • Follicular epithelial differentiation
  • Follicular papilla
  • Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2
  • Programmed cell death
  • Protease nexin-1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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