Fig. 6: β-catenin-null HFSCs elevate ROR2 expression to protect themselves from the loss of stem cell pool and wrong fate differentiation.
From: ROR2 regulates self-renewal and maintenance of hair follicle stem cells
a β-cat cKO HFs stay at telogen phase permanently without losing HFSC compartment. (Top) Schematic diagram illustrating hair cycle progression of β-cat Ctrl and cKO mice. (Bottom left) β-Cat cKO mouse displayed a delay in hair coat recovery at the 1st anagen (P31), and then stay at the 2nd telogen permanently without entering the next hair cycle as evidenced by no hair coat recovery from the shaved skin of the older animal (P198). (Bottom right) Oil Red O staining of sebocytes on whole-mount skins from β-cat Ctrl and cKO mice. The bulge compartment of β-cat cKO HFs at aged animals is intact and HFSCs are maintained. b Real-time PCR analyses of FACS-purified β-cat Ctrl and cKO HFSCs from early (P55-60), late (P65-90), and aged (>P250) telogen HFs. Values of β-cat cKO HFSCs were normalized to β-cat Ctrl HFSC mRNA for each set. c Ror2 depletion in β-cat cKO HFs results in the loss of HFSCs and wrong fate differentiation. (Top) Schematic diagram illustrating the hair cycle progression of Ror2/β-cat Ctrl, Ror2 cKO, β-cat cKO, and Ror2/β-cat dKO mice. (Bottom left) Oil Red O staining of sebocytes on whole-mount skins from Ror2/β-cat Ctrl, Ror2 cKO, β-cat cKO, and Ror2/β-cat dKO mice. (Bottom right) Quantification of HFs with normal structure, enlarged sebaceous glands (SGs), or accompanied by diminished bulge is shown. d Immunofluorescence images of whole-mount skins from Ror2/β-cat Ctrl and dKO mice for YFP. Results are representative of at least three independent experiments. e Real-time PCR analyses of Ror2/β-cat Ctrl and dKO HFSCs for HFSC stemness genes. Values were normalized to mRNA of Ror2/β-cat Ctrl HFSCs. Scale bars in a, c, d represent 50 μm. Data in b and e are reported as average ± s.d.; n = 4 (for Early Tel), 5 (for Late Tel), or 3 (for Aged Tel) biological independent animals (b), n = 4 biological independent animals (e); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005. Unpaired two-sided t-test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
