318 The Wnt-inhibitor Dkk4 is required for primary hair follicle induction and patterning

Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of pattern hair loss, characterized by miniaturized hair follicles (HFs) at the front and parietal scalp, while hairs on the occipital scalp are preserved. Moreover, different body sites exhibit distinct types and patterns of HFs and understanding the molecular basis for this heterogeneity is important to design targeted treatment strategies. The Wnt signalling pathway and its Dickkopf (Dkk) inhibitors have been suggested to regulate HF type and patterning.