Cited by 331Hair Growth and DisordersSkin and Cellular Biology Researchdental development and anomalies

Sox2-positive dermal papilla cells specify hair follicle type in mammalian epidermis

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Driskell, Ryan R., Giangreco, Adam, Jensen, Kim B., Mulder, Klaas W., Watt, Fiona M.·2009·Development

Abstract

The dermal papilla comprises the specialised mesenchymal cells at the base of the hair follicle. Communication between dermal papilla cells and the overlying epithelium is essential for differentiation of the hair follicle lineages. We report that Sox2 is expressed in all dermal papillae at E16.5,but from E18.5 onwards expression is confined to a subset of dermal papillae. In postnatal skin, Sox2 is only expressed in the dermal papillae of guard/awl/auchene follicles, whereas CD133 is expressed both in guard/awl/auchene and in zigzag dermal papillae. Using transgenic mice that express GFP under the control of the Sox2 promoter, we isolated Sox2+ (GFP+) CD133+ cells and compared them with Sox2- (GFP-) CD133+ dermal papilla cells. In addition to the `core' dermal papilla gene signature, each subpopulation expressed distinct sets of genes. GFP+CD133+ cells had upregulated Wnt, FGF and BMP pathways and expressed neural crest markers. In GFP- CD133+ cells,the hedgehog, IGF, Notch and integrin pathways were prominent. In skin reconstitution assays, hair follicles failed to form when dermis was depleted of both GFP+ CD133+ and GFP-CD133+ cells. In the absence of GFP+ CD133+cells, awl/auchene hairs failed to form and only zigzag hairs were found. We have thus demonstrated a previously unrecognised heterogeneity in dermal papilla cells and shown that Sox2-positive cells specify particular hair follicle types.

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Crossref · 10.1242/dev.038620

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  • SOX2 was expressed in every dermal papilla cell cluster examined.

    “The transcription factor SOX2 was expressed in every dermal papilla (DP) cell cluster examined (Fig. 1i–l, Supplementary Video 1, 2), consistent with human foetal HFs and mouse guard, awl, and auchene HFs17.”

    From Hair-bearing human skin generated entirely from pluripotent stem cells (2020) · cites this paper as [17]

    The citation supports the comparison with mouse guard, awl and auchene follicles: the section ‘Sox2 is expressed in guard/awl/auchene dermal papillae but not in zigzag dermal papillae’ reports Sox2 expression in those follicle types. Our copy does not report the claimed comparison with human foetal hair follicles. The statement that every cluster in the citing authors’ examination expressed SOX2 refers to their own observations, not a finding attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • SOX2 is a key protein in the dermal papilla for the development of HFs in mammals.

    “SOX2 is a key protein in the dermal papilla for the development of HFs in mammals [21].”

    From The empowering influence of air-liquid interface culture on skin organoid hair follicle development (2025) · cites this paper as [21]

    The section on Sox2 expression in the dermal papilla reports Sox2 in developing mouse hair follicles, and the paper’s opening summary reports that Sox2-positive dermal papilla cells specify particular follicle types. But the reconstitution experiment removed Sox2-positive cells, not Sox2 protein itself; zigzag follicles still formed. The paper therefore does not establish that SOX2 protein is broadly required for hair-follicle development in mammals. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The bulb-like structures are reminiscent of nascent guard, awl, or auchene hair follicles.

    “We discovered that these structures were extensions of the KRT5+ epidermis and were associated with SOX2+ dermal papilla (DP)-like cells (Figure 1C, D), reminiscent of nascent guard, awl, or auchene HFs (Driskell et al., 2009; Lesko et al., 2013).”

    From Hair Follicle Development in Mouse Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skin Organoids (2018) · cites this paper as Driskell et al., 2009

  • The majority of SG-like structures observed in the skin organoids were bifurcates, reminiscent of guard hairs.

    “The majority of SG-like structures observed in the skin organoids were bifurcates, reminiscence of guard hairs (Driskell et al., 2009).”

    From Hair Follicle Development in Mouse Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skin Organoids (2018) · cites this paper as Driskell et al., 2009

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Authors
Driskell, R. R., Giangreco, A., Jensen, K. B., Mulder, K. W., & Watt, F. M.
Affiliations
  • Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (GB)
  • Cancer Research UK (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Giangreco, Adam
  • Watt, Fiona M.
Venue
Development
Published
2009-08-15
Volume
136
Issue
16
Pages
2815-2823
ISSN
  • 0950-1991 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9129
OpenAlex
W2138907299
Cited by
331
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 26
FWCI
20.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Cancer Research UK
  • European Commission (220642)
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Hair Growth and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Skin and Cellular Biology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › dental development and anomalies
Keywords
SOX2, dermal papilla cells, CD133, hair follicle development, Wnt signaling, BMP signaling, FGF signaling, Hedgehog signaling, Notch signaling, integrin signaling, neural crest markers
MeSH terms
AC133 Antigen, Epidermal Cells, Animals, Embryo, Mammalian, Epidermis, Glycoproteins, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Nude, Mice, Transgenic, Peptides, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Signal Transduction, Antigens, CD, Hair Follicle, Dermis, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Gene Expression Profiling, Mice, Gene Regulatory Networks, SOXB1 Transcription Factors

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