589 Hair follicle chemosensation: TRPM5 signaling is required for anagen maintenance

Abstract

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels are considered as central players in chemosensation. Several TRP channels (TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4) are expressed in the human hair follicle (HF), and the pharmacological activation of these TRP channels induces catagen in organ-cultured human HFs. In the current study, we explored the role of another TRP channel, TRPM5, which is also activated by a wide range of extra- and intracellular signals. Marked TRPM5 receptor protein expression was identified in epithelial HF compartments, most prominently in outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes.