Thymosin beta4 increases mouse hair regeneration

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.11.008

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Results of recent studies demonstrated the modulation of thymosin β4 on hair cycle and regeneration, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which thymosin β4 increases hair regeneration through Wnt signal pathway.

METHODS: After the mouse model of depilation was established using rosin/paraffin mixed agents, the experimental animals were randomly assorted to three different groups, including low-dose, high-dose and control groups, and a dose of 0.3 μg/50 μL, 3 μg/50 μL thymosin β4 and PBS was administered on the depilated backs every 12 hours, respectively. Then photography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were applied to observe the growth of hair, and the expressions of β-catenin and LEF-1 mRNA in different groups at different time were quantitatively evaluated.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The hair growth of the low-dose group was faster than that of the other groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated inflammatory cells infiltration in the dermis after depilation, and the number of hair follicles that were in the phase of anagen was much more than the other groups as time went by. Immunohistochemistry of β-catenin showed the accumulation of intra-cellular β-catenin in the low-dose group at the bulge of follicles assessed by integrated absorbance analysis (P < 0.05), so did the in situ hybridization of LEF-1 mRNA. Low-dose thymosin β4 accelerates hair growth through Wnt signal pathway by elevating the level of β-catenin and LEF-1 mRNA.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

全文链接：

Key words: hair follicle, thymosin, beta catenin, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1

CLC Number:

R318

Li Ye, Bao Xu, Chen Xi, Jia Xin-ru, Xu Song-shan, Che Yong-zhe. Thymosin beta4 increases mouse hair regeneration[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2014, 18(11): 1687-1693.

Figures/Tables 2

2.1 实验动物数量分析实验入选小鼠105只，分为3组，全部进入结果分析，无脱失。 2.2 小鼠背部毛发生长情况小鼠脱毛后皮肤略呈粉色；低剂量胸腺素β4组第5天皮肤颜色变灰，之后颜色逐渐加深，第9-11天可见背部有大面积细密短小的新毛长出，第18天背部毛发完全与周围毛发平齐，但颜色相对黑亮；高剂量胸腺素β4组与对照组第7-9天背部局部皮肤变灰，第12至13天才有新毛长出且较为稀疏，第18天细小毛发长满脱毛处，但明显较周围毛发短(图1)。 2.3 组织学观察毛囊再生毛囊的生长包括3个阶段：生长期、退化期和静止期[25]。小鼠脱毛后，毛囊形态呈静止期表现，毛乳头位于真皮和皮下组织交界处，没有毛囊包裹，毛囊短小，与毛乳头接触范围小。在真皮和皮下脂肪层有一定数量的炎细胞浸润；第9天，低剂量胸腺素β4组镜下可见处于生长期的毛囊多于对照组，毛囊增长并向下生长，毛囊末端基质细胞包绕毛乳头，毛乳头细胞体积较原来增大。毛母质细胞内有明显的黑色素形成, 新生毛发明显可见，皮下组织有新的小血管形成；18 d时低剂量胸腺素β4组毛乳头体积缩小，部分毛球远端基质细胞变小，呈退化期改变，毛干完全长出。高剂量胸腺素β4组和对照组各阶段毛囊生长情况均明显滞后于低剂量胸腺素β4组(图2)。 2.4 β-catenin免疫组化检查结果 β-catenin主要表达于毛囊外根鞘处细胞的胞浆中，胞浆呈棕黄色的为β-catenin表达阳性细胞。从镜下纵切面可观察到，阳性细胞主要分布于毛囊隆突部，部分分布于外根鞘处，较其他部位染色程度深(图3A1)。相同时间点不同组别间比较，低剂量胸腺素β4组的阳性细胞最多，平均染色程度最深；高剂量胸腺素β4组和对照组阳性细胞较少，染色程度浅(图3B1，C1)。经积分吸光度分析发现(表1)，低剂量胸腺素β4组各时间点积分吸光度值均高于高剂量胸腺素β4组和对照组，差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)，而高剂量胸腺素β4组与对照组之间差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05，图4A)。"

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