Int. J. Dev. Biol. 48: 163 - 170 (2004)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.15272381

Vol 48, Issue 2-3

Special Issue: Skin Development

Hair follicle differentiation and regulation

Published: 1 April 2004

George E Rogers

School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia. george.rogers@adelaide.edu.au

Abstract

Ten years ago, Hardy (1992) wrote a timely review on the major features of hair follicle development and hair growth which she referred to as a secret life. Many of these secrets are now being revealed. The information discussed in this brief review comprises the structure of the hair and hair follicle, the continuing characterisation of the genes for keratin and keratin associated proteins, the determination of the location of their expression in the different cell layers of the hair follicle, molecular signals which control keratin gene expression and post-translational events in the terminal stages of hair formation.

Keywords

hair, follicle layer, keratinocyte, keratin gene, gene expression