Noggin is a mesenchymally derived stimulator of hair-follicle induction

Nat Cell Biol. 1999 Jul;1(3):158-64. doi: 10.1038/11078.

Abstract

The induction of developmental structures derived from the ectoderm, such as the neural tube or tooth, occurs through neutralization of the inhibitory activity of members of the bone-morphogenetic protein (BMP) family by BMP antagonists. Here we show that, during hair-follicle development, the neural inducer and BMP-neutralizing protein Noggin is expressed in the follicular mesenchyme, that noggin-knockout mice show significant retardation of hair-follicle induction, and that Noggin neutralizes the inhibitory action of BMP-4 and stimulates hair-follicle induction in embryonic skin organ culture. As a crucial mesenchymal signal that stimulates hair-follicle induction, Noggin operates through antagonistic interactions with BMP-4, which result in upregulation of the transcription factor Lef-1 and the cell-adhesion molecule NCAM, as well as through BMP4-independent downregulation of the 75 kD neurotrophin receptor in the developing hair follicle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Hair Follicle / embryology*
  • Heterozygote
  • Keratins / genetics
  • Mesoderm / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morphogenesis
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Growth Factor*
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / embryology
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta*

Substances

  • Bmp2 protein, mouse
  • Bmp4 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Growth Factor
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • noggin protein
  • Keratins
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors