Journal Article

FGF5 is a crucial regulator of hair length in humans

Christiano, Angela M., Wajid, Muhammad, Petukhova, Lynn, Higgins, Claire A., Harel, Sivan, Drill, Esther, Shapiro, Lawrence, Ho, Yuan Y.

2014

Overview

Mechanisms that regulate the growth of eyelashes have remained obscure. We ascertained two families from Pakistan who presented with familial trichomegaly, or extreme eyelash growth. Using a combination of whole exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping, we identified distinct pathogenic mutations within fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) that underlie the disorder. Subsequent sequencing of this gene in several additional trichomegaly families identified an additional mutation in FGF5 . We further demonstrated that hair fibers from forearms of these patients were significantly longer than hairs from control individuals, with an increased proportion in the growth phase, anagen. Using hair follicle organ cultures, we show that FGF5 induces regression of the human hair follicle. We have identified FGF5 as a crucial regulator of hair growth in humans for the first time, to our knowledge, and uncovered a therapeutic target to selectively regulate eyelash growth.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences,National Acad Sciences
• Subject: Amino Acid Sequence / arms (limbs) / Biological Sciences / Exons / Exons - genetics / Eyelashes / Families & family life / Family members / Female / Fibers / Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 - chemistry / Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 - genetics / Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 - metabolism / Fibroblast growth factors / Follicles / Genetic mutation / Genomics / Hair / Hair - anatomy & histology / Hair - growth & development / Hair Follicle - metabolism / Hair follicles / hairs / Homozygosity / Homozygote / Humans / Knowledge / Male / Molecular Sequence Data / Mutation / Mutation, Missense - genetics / Pakistan / patients / Pedigree / Phenotype / Phenotypes / Protein Transport / sequence analysis / Sequence Analysis, DNA / Sequencing