LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE MOUSE HAIR FOLLICLE GROWTH BY WNT/ß-CATENIN SIGNALING

Jun Ye*,**, Qing Zhou***, Yong Miao****, Bojie Lin*,# Guoqian Yin*,#

*Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery,The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China - **Department of emergency surgery, The Affiliated Zhuzhou Hospital Xiangya Medical College CSU, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, 412007, China - ***Infectious Department, The Affiliated Zhuzhou Hospital Xiangya Medical College CSU, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, 412007, China - ****Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China

Objective: To investigate whether Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) promoted the growth of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and affected the biological characteristics of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) through Wnt /ß-catenin pathway, using vibrissae follicle (VF) organ culture model. 

Methods: The expression of LDH in DPCs and hair matrix (HM) regions in the anagen phase of the hair cycle was assessed by immunochemistry. Subsequently, VFs of mice dissected microscopically were treated with different concentrations of LDH (1-10 μg/ml). Then, the proliferation of intracellular keratinocytes in hair follicles was assessed by Ki-67 and TUNEL double immunofluorescence staining. In addition, DPCs were cultured with 5-10 μg/ml LDH and the expression of the associated proteins in the Wnt /ß-catenin signalling were measured via western blot. The effect of LDH on hair growth was observed in vivo by injecting it into the mice subcutaneously. 

Results: LDH was mainly expressed in DPCs and HM regions. It significantly promoted hair shaft elongation in cultured VFs. After treatment with 5-10 μg/ml LDH, considerably stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation was observed in the hair matrix. Moreover, LDH significantly increased expression levels of alkaline phosphatise (ALP) and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF-1) in DPCs. The channel proteins of Wnt5a and ß-catenin were also highly expressed in vitro. Finally, LDH noticeably accelerated the transition of the hair cycle from the telogen to anagen phase in the dorsal skin of mice.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that LDH has the potential to stimulate mouse hair growth in vitro, and activate the initiation of a new hair cycle.