Alkaline Ceramidase 1 Protects Mice from Premature Hair Loss by Maintaining the Homeostasis of Hair Follicle Stem Cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.09.015
• Publication Date: 2017-10-19T19:00:20Z
• Authors: Chih-Li Lin; Ruijuan Xu; Jae Kyo Yi; Fang Li; Jiang Chen; Evan C. Jones; Jordan B. Slutsky; Liqun Huang; Basil Rigas; Jian Cao; Xiaoming Zhong; Ashley J. Snider; Lina M. Obeid; Yusuf A. Hannun; Cungui Mao
• Keywords: Homeostasis

Highlights•Acer1 is a skin-specific ceramidase that controls the catabolism of ceramides•Acer1 plays key role in homeostasis epidermis and its appendages•Acer1−/− mice suffer from progressive alopecia•Loss Acer1 progressively depletes population hair follicle stem cellsSummaryCeramides their metabolites are important for epidermis, but much remains unknown about roles specific pathways ceramide metabolism skin biology. With mouse model deficient alkaline (Acer1) gene, we demonstrate ACER1 appendages by controlling ceramides. Loss elevated levels various ceramides sphingoid bases caused loss mice. Mechanistic studies revealed widened follicular infundibulum cells (HFSCs) due to reduced survival stemness. These results suggest maintaining HFSCs, thereby structure function, regulating epidermis.