May the best wound WIHN: the hallmarks of wound-induced hair neogenesis

Abstract

The hair follicle is a unique mini organ that undergoes continuous cycles of replenishment. While hair follicle formation was long thought to occur strictly during embryogenesis, it is now becoming increasingly clear that hair follicles can regenerate from the wound bed. Here, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in the field of Wound Induced Hair Neogenesis (WIHN) in mice. We briefly outline the hair follicle morphogenic process and discuss the major features of adult hair follicle regeneration. We examine the role of distinct cell types and review the contribution of specific signaling pathways to the WIHN phenotype. The phenomenon of neogenic hair regeneration provides an important platform, which may offer new insights into mammalian regeneration in the adult setting.