A Primary Study On The Function Of Lgr4 During The Mouse Hair Cycle

The morphology of postnatal mammal hair follicles isn’t permanent, in contrast, the hair follicles undergo cyclic involution and regeneration. The hair follicle cycle includes angen, catagen, telegen. The hair follicle has a cyclic growth charateristic, so it provides a good modle to study tissue regeneration. In addtion, the majority of the known hair growth disorders are a consequence of changes in the hair cycle. So looking for the factors that regulate hair follicle cycle is very important to result in satisfactory treatment options in the field of hair growth disorders. Lgr4 (Gpr48) is a kind of G-couple receptor. GPCRs are the most successful targets of modern medicine that attracts the attention of scientists. Gpr48/LGR4 plays important roles in growth retardation and renal, eye, reproductive, bone system development. In addition, Lgr4’s expression is very high in the dermal papilla, hair germ, bulge of hair follicle which are very important in regulating hair follicle cycle. However, how does Lgr4 affect hair follicle cycle hasn’t been reported.Research Object1. To clarify the expression of Lgr4 in all hair follicle cycle stages; 2.To systematicly explor Lgr4’s effection on hair follicle cycle, hair follicle stem cells and assciated mechanism.Research MethodsThe research used Lgr4 knock out mice to explore Lgr4’s function in regulating hair follicle cycle.1. To identify the mice’s genotype by PCR and tissue X-gal staining.2. To explore Lgr4’expression in hair follicle by tissue section X-gal staining and immune co-localization 3. To explore Lgr4’s function in regulating hair follicle cycle by building up mice growth model and HE staining.4. To explore Lgr4’s effect on hair follicle proliferation and associated mechanism.Result and Conclusion1. We firstly clarify systematically Lgr4’s expression in anagen, catagen, telogen of hair follicle cycle and found that Lgr4 express highly in the structures which are very important to hair follicle cycle, such as bulge, dermal papilla, hair germ.2. We confirmed that Lgr4 can regulate hair follicle cycle, it affects telogen-anagen transition.3.Lgr4 affects hair follicle proliferation by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during telogen-anagen transition. And Lgr4 has no effects on bulge hair follicle stem cells.Innovation and Significance of the ResearchOur research found a new gene that can regulate hair follicle cycle. G-couple receptor affects telogen-anagen transition by influencing hair follicle cells proliferation in the first time. Lgr4 G-couple receptor Lgr4 may be as a new potential drug target to treat hair growth disease.